Traditional Pakistani Food Necessary for Iftar

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dusk to dawn, meaning they don’t eat, drink, smoke or engage in any sexual activity during the period. And so, sehri, the meal before fasting commences, and iftar are quite a large affair, especially in Pakistan given how vast and delicious Pakistani cuisine is. There are certain delicacies that are enjoyed in every Pakistani household and I am going to round them up for you! 

Keep in mind, Ramadan does not mean for men to pray and women to work in the kitchen. There should be an equal contribution from every member of the household in making sehri and iftar! You should also order food online sometimes so everyone can have an enjoyable meal, without having to work 24/7! So, coming to the topic for which you came here for, what are some traditional Pakistani dishes that are necessary at the iftar table? 

Pakoras: 

You probably already knew this would be at the top of the list! No Pakistani iftar is complete without pakoras. These are made out of ground flour (besan)’s paste. Different vegetables and spices are added in the paste before it is deep-fried in small portions using a spoon or even hands! You cry it till a nice golden colour appears on the pakoras. 

You can eat pakoras with different chutneys, raita, and ketchup. You can also have pakoras without any of those! Every iftar party, iftar buffet includes pakoras. I am not even kidding when I say people would think you are an alien if you say you don’t like pakoras because they are mouth-wateringly delicious. 

Chana Chat: 

White chickpeas are found at every iftar table in Pakistan. From kids to elders, everyone looks forward to chana chat at iftar. The best thing about chana chat is that, unlike nearly everything else on a Pakistani iftar table, this is a healthy dish! Chickpeas are boiled, add spices are added in the yogurt that is mixed with the chana. Alternatively, there’s no yoghurt and spices are mixed directly into the chana. Either way, the dish is mouthwateringly delicious. From aalu bukharay (prunes) ki chutney to podinay (mint) ki chutney, there are so many things you can do with this particular item! 

Samosay: 

Am I the only one who thinks parkoray, chanay and samosay are like a family that shouldn’t ever be separated? Samosas are popular all over the world and a necessity for iftar! For someone who is unaware of what this is- it’s a fried pastry filled with potato with spices or meat with spices depending upon your preference. Samosas are shaped differently around the world- cone, rectangular, moon-shaped, and triangle. In this region, triangular shape is the common shape. People pair samosas with different chutneys and some even eat it with ketchup. 

Fruit Chat: 

Not everything at the iftar table is spicy! Fruit chat are the refreshing, sweet and tasty item that is present at every iftar table in Pakistan. Not only is it nutritious, it is delicious too. If you are like me and crave for something sweet at iftar, this is the solution. Too much sugar is bad for health but fruit chat is the blend of fruits so it is healthy and sugary! Adding a touch of chat masala is the desi touch that fruit chat made in a Pakistani household requires! There are so many variations of fruit chat including the addition of whipped cream, chocolate syrup and much more! 

Dahi Bhallay: 

Last but not least is dahi bhallay. Dumplings made up of Moong and Mash daal are mixed with yoghurt and spices are added it in. It is served with imli ki chutney or raita. It is one of those easy to make yet super dishes. Add papri to your dahi bhallya and nothing can compare to its taste. The yoghurt element of the dish helps in quenching one’s thirst nicely too! Pro-tip is to fry the moong and mash daal dumplings and freeze them so you can use them at a later date and make dahi bhallay in minimal time!