Easy Vegan Ramadan Meals
Ramadan is a holy time for Muslims around the world. Did you know that there are 1.6 Muslims around the world? Many people will celebrate the holiday for a month. The world itself means scorching heat/dryness and it happens during the ninth month of the Lunar-based Islamic calendar.
During this month, Muslims are required to fast except for those who are sick, traveling, elderly, pregnant, diabetic, breastfeeding, or menstruating. Fasting starts at sunrise and ends at sunset and yes that means no water. The meal eaten at dawn is called suhur and the meal after sunset is called Iftar. The concept of fasting is to experience the hunger and thirst felt by those who are less fortunate. You can fast for 16 hours sometimes.
Muslims will also refrain from smoking, sinful behavior like lying and cursing. There's also no sexual relations with partners. The idea is to have a fast from physical desires and emotions so that you can cleanse one's mind and body from things that are deemed as harmful.
If you want to wish a friend who is celebrating, you say "Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak."
We love to celebrate all the holidays so for this particular one, we made two meals that would work for both Suhur and Iftar.
For Suhur we made a Vegan Fereni Pudding. It's perfect for breakfast or dessert if you're still craving it after Iftar.
You'll need almond milk for this recipe. You can either buy it from the store or use this delicious homemade recipe:
Almond Milk
Ingredients: -1 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight)
-3 cups of water
-1-2 Dates
-Pinch of salt
-Capful of vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Drain your almonds.
2. Put almonds and three cups of water in a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Strain your milk. Save the mixture for later. You can make crackers from the mix.
4. Return your milk to the blender and add your other ingredients.
5. Drink and enjoy!
Fereni Pudding
Ingredients:
-1/3 cup potato or tapioca starch
-1/2 cup almond milk to mix
-1/2 cup almond milk to boil
-3 whole green cardamom pods
-1/4 cup ground almonds
-2 TBSP coconut sugar
-Rosewater to taste
Directions:
1. Dissolve your starch in in 1/2 cup cold almond milk.
2. Bring your other 1/2 cup of almond milk to a boil.
3. Add your cardamom pods and ground almonds.
4. Reduce heat and add your starch and milk mixture.
5. Add your sugar and rosewater.
6. Boil for three minutes.
7. Serve and enjoy!!
For Iftar, we made a Lentil Soup that's protein-packed so it'll keep you feeling full.
Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
-1 pre-mixed soup starter of carrots, onions, and celery
-3-4 cloves of garlic
-1/4 inch ginger grated
-6 cups vegetable soup
-1 cup red lentils
-1 can organic chickpeas
-1 can cannellini beans
-1 can diced tomatoes
-1 TSP garam masala
-1 TSP mustard seeds
-1 TSP cumin seeds
-1.5 cardamom powder
-1 jalapeno
-3-4 TBSP sunflower oil
Directions:
1. Add your oil, your soup starter and stir fry until onions caramelize.
2. Add your garlic, ginger, and jalapeños.
3. Add the rest of your ingredients and cook until the lentils are soft.
4. Blend your mixture in a blender and enjoy!
