Spend Less Time in the Kitchen This Ramadan

iftar image from Gulfnews 9/07

No matter how much we try to avoid it-some of us spend more time in the kitchen than we would like to during Ramadan. Instead of devoting more time to dhikr or Qur’an we find ourselves sweating it out over pots of stew or vegetables.  Even for someone like me, who loves to cook, it can prove to be quite tiresome. Insha’Allah here are some tips to help you cut down on your cooking time this Ramadan:

*Save the feast for Eid! Less food keeps you feeling comfortable so that you can perform tarawih prayers.  

*Keep meals simple and light. Instead of preparing a number of dishes-prepare a light soup that can be eaten with hearty bread. I usually make a big pot of pumpkin soup using a mixture of canned pumpkin, light cream, finely diced celery & carrots, and flavorful spices like clove and ginger. This sweet and savory soup is delicious and filling. It also stretches over a number of days.

*Try breakfast for iftar. Growing up my father always broke his fast with breakfast foods. The best thing about breakfast items is that they are typically quick and easy to prepare. Whip up pancakes from the box with a side of breakfast links or omelettes with toast. These foods will satisfy you and give you time to spare.

*Attend community iftars or host potlucks. Alhamdulilah-many masjids hosts community iftars throughout the month. At my masjid we hold community iftars during the weekend where each of us is responsible for bringing a dish. If you do not have this option but do know other families or single Muslims try to organize a few potluck dinners throughout the month. You can alternate so that no one family or individual feels burdened to host all of the dinners.

*Consider buying prepared salads and foods or eating out if it fits your budget. Some halal restaurants host affordable buffets throughout the month. Salad bars at gourmet supermarkets like Wegman’s also offer nutrious and delicious options.

 *Start to freeze meals now. In these next few weeks before Ramadan cook an additional two to three meals a week and freeze them. Stews and soups hold up incredibly well. Meat dishes and samosas also prove to be freezer friendly. Just remember to make sure that food is completely cool before freezing and that you have the proper containers. For more freezing tips read this article on allrecipes.com.

(c) Baitunjamil 2008

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