Iftar
The sunset meal that breaks the Ramadan fast, often with dates, soups and spiced dishes.
Also: Ramadan meal, breaking the fast, suhoor, sehri
Iftar is the meal Muslims eat at sunset during Ramadan, traditionally beginning with dates and water. Across the world the table differs: Moroccan harira, a soup of tomato, lentils, chickpeas, ginger, cinnamon and saffron; Indian and Pakistani pakoras, samosas, fruit chaat, haleem and sweet rooh afza drinks; Egyptian qatayef; Gulf harees and luqaimat; and Indonesian kolak with palm sugar and pandan. Spice supports the meal's twin needs of gentle hydration and satisfying richness. The pre-dawn meal, suhoor or sehri, is typically lighter. Families, mosques and neighbourhoods share iftar, and spice markets are busiest in the days before Ramadan.