Satisfy Your Ramadan Iftar Cravings with Delicious Sweet and Savory Recipes

Experience the Flavors of Somalia: Perfect Pre-Dawn and Post-Sunset Dishes

Ramadan is a time for self-reflection and community building. It’s also a time for fasting from sunrise until sundown. During this holy month, Muslims worldwide gather with family and friends to share meals before dawn and after sunset.

In Somali homes around the world, cooks follow a shared culinary choreography. Henna-stained fingers fill and fold samburs to fry to the same shade of golden brown as the soon-setting sun. Soor iyo dalac bilaash, another beloved Ramadan dish, is a light and comforting option for an iftar meal. The tomato-topped grits feel especially restorative after a day of fasting. Rooti farmaajo, cheese-filled buns baked into a honeycomb pattern, are sweet and tender and just as welcome at the start of any day.

Somali Cuisine

Hilib Sambuus (Fried Beef Dumplings)

Hilib Sambuus (Fried Beef Dumplings) are a Somali relative of Indian samosas. These fried treats filled with spiced ground beef can be served with fiery basbaas or wrapped in malawax, cardamom crepes, for a sweet and savory experience.

Soor iyo Dalac Bilaash (Grits and Tomato Stew)

Somali cuisine is known for its mild flavors, but this hot sauce is an exception. Made with chiles and cilantro, it adds a fiery kick to the meat or roasted vegetables.

Rooti Farmaajo (Honeycomb Cheese Bread)

Thick and comforting, soor is Somalia’s version of grits. In this recipe, it’s topped with dalac bilaash, a robust tomato stew that can be made easily with just a few simple ingredients.

This bread is pillowy and sweet. It’s drizzled with condensed milk and topped with shredded coconut. It’s a popular treat during Ramadan but also worth making year-round.