Ramazan edition: Four quick and healthy recipes to open and close your fast with

From bread dishes to meaty delights and french fries alternatives, we’ve got it all!

The holy month of Ramazan is almost here and that means the preparations for suhoor and iftar have already begun. While chana chaat, fruit chaat, dahi ballay, samosas and pakoras are a staple in almost every household here in Ramazan, it can be a challenge to think of new fulfilling recipes to bring a new taste to your palette.

As the work timings reduce for the holy month, people often have more time on their plate; to both rest and put on their chef hats. From bread delicacies to meaty delights and fried food alternatives, we’ve got it all! And of course, we have a refreshing new drink for you to quench your thirst with.

If you’re looking to try new recipes this Ramazan, scroll ahead to see some sweet, savoury and salty food to open and close your fast with.

Bread pinwheel
For all people who are diet conscious but also don’t like open-faced sandwiches, here’s a bread dish you can make in under 10 minutes. All you need is slices of bread, some cheese spread, chicken rasher, smoked chicken slices, cheese slices, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce leaves And olives. For the dressing, use mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, chilli sauce, salt and black pepper.

Flatten the bread and layer it with all ingredients starting with the veggies. Then roll the slice, wrapping it as tightly as you can. Once wrapped, take a toothpick and poke it through the centre, enclosing the whole thing. These cheesy delights can be served both warm and cold.

Mantu
All dumpling fans, reunite! Mantu is essentially ravioli filled with beef (you can use veggies too) covered with a yoghurt sauce and tomato sauce. It’s low-calorie, fulfilling and super delicious!

The three basic ingredients for cooking Mantu are minced meat prepped with spices, wonton wrappers, and yoghurt with herbs. Although a little time-consuming, this dish is worth the hard work it requires and hey – you can freeze them after making a big batch too.

Eggplant fries
Trust us, this one is a game-changer! The fried eggplant fries are a healthier version of regular fries with fewer calories than a potato – and with its crispy coating and spongy inside, one can’t even tell the difference. They make yummy snacks as well as great starters.

The process is exactly the same as you would with potato fries except you have to soak the eggplant in milk and water solution to remove some bitterness of the eggplant. Coat it with milk, eggs and breadcrumbs for the extra crunch. One suggestion: pair it with a spicy mayo garlic dip!

Masala Chaas
For all those who avoid drinking yoghurt in suhoor, you can try this instead. While Rooh Afza and Tang are great drinks for iftar, this buttermilk drink, apart from its cooling effect, gives a very refreshing feeling and is good for digestion too.

You need yogurt, cold water, grated ginger, cumin powder, black salt, black pepper, black mustard seeds, Asafoetida, curry and coriander leaves. Give it a good blend and enjoy the taste!

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