Journalism of Courage
Iftar, the meal Muslims share to break their fast during Ramadan, is a joyful and communal occasion. Traditional iftar dishes vary widely across the Islamic world, showcasing diverse cultures and cuisines. Desserts, in particular, hold a special place in Iftar, offering a delightful end to the day’s fast. (Source: Express Photo by Abhishek Saha)
TasteAtlas has shared a list of nine Iftar desserts enjoyed across countries during this festive period. Bishan Negi, executive chef at DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square, sheds some light on them. 1. Kunafah: This Arab dessert features a delightful blend of crispy, thin phyllo pastry, clarified butter, pistachios, and cheese. The traditional ingredient for this dish is akkawi cheese, which is complemented by a rose-flavoured sugar syrup that soaks the dessert. Akkawi cheese can be replaced with mozzarella cheese and cream cheese. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
2. Baklava: This dessert consists of layers of filo pastry filled with a mixture of dried nuts and sweetened with cinnamon, honey, and sugar syrup. Baklava is prepared in various shapes and is typically served at room temperature. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
3. Sholehzard: It is a traditional rice pudding infused with saffron, cardamom, and rose water. This delightful dessert is served cold and is adorned with a sprinkle of cinnamon powder and a selection of dried nuts. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Qatayef: This is a deep-fried stuffed dumpling with dry nuts and clotted cream or cream cheese. The fried dumpling is generously stuffed with hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, and raisins. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Lapis Legit: This cake features multiple layers and is composed of all-purpose flour, eggs, and condensed milk. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Maamoul: These are molded cookies stuffed with fig or dates and served with dust of icing sugar. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Revani: This is a semolina cake soaked in simple sugar. The key ingredients in this cake are semolina, yogurt, baking powder and vanilla. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Tufahija: Green apple dessert stuffed with walnut powder and whipped cream is served cold. The inclusion of green apples imparts a delightful balance of sweetness and tanginess to the dish. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Lokum: This dessert, commonly referred to as Turkish delight, is a blend of various flavours, corn starch, and vanilla essence. It possesses a gelatinous texture and is coated with dry nuts such as almonds and pistachios. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
