Iftar Ideas - Bake It Halal

Some amazing Iftar Ideas!!

Iftar- is the time when Muslims break their fast, can be in the month of Ramadhan or a voluntary fast. We fast from before Sunrise to Sunset,no eating or drinking and be the best in our actions, intentions and also charity.

I like to keep it healthy food wise and sometimes take a break from my healthy diet and food- you’ve got to eat from both food worlds 😉 The fried finger foods can be so tempting.
All the same, it can be enjoyed as a snack or party appetizers…..

Viazi Karai-Packed Potatoes- Chilli sandwich potatoes ( a lot of names for one dish!!)

Fried potatoes are always welcome! You will find this mouthwatering potatoes in the alleys of Coastal towns in Kenya. Ladies prepare it from their homes and sell it right outside.The beautiful thing about the ladies is that once sold out they close the door, so if you miss your chance in purchasing the potatoes you have to wait till next day! Make sure you go a little early to stand in line, almost like waiting outside Best Buy on a Black Friday!?

6-8 golf ball size potatoes ( boiled and peeled)
Make a half slit in the potatoes

Filling
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chilli powder ( extra hot)

½ lemon juice

Mix the above ingredients to a paste and fill in the half slit potatoes.

Batter

½ cup yellow gram flour ( channa flour )

1/4cup white flour

salt to taste

½ teaspoon chilli powder

water to mix

Oil to deep fry- preheat on medium heat

Mix the above ingredients with water ( make sure to go easy) to make a thick batter like the pancake mixture. Fold each potato in it and fry in the preheated oil. Turn occasionally till golden and crisp. Serve with tamarind chutney ( add ¼ tsp garlic paste to add some zing) and mango chutney or tastes equally yummy with ketchup.

Coconut chutney

2 Grated green mangoes
½ cup grated coconut ( you can frozen coconut, make sure it’s well thawed)
½ bunch coriander leaves chopped
2-3 green chillies ( depending on your spice level)

1 teaspoon salt
2-3 tablespoons water

Blend all together the above in a mixer for 2-3 minutes. Remove in a bowl and add salt to taste.

Maru Bajia ( Fried sliced potatoes)

4 potatoes, peeled and thick sliced
1 cup gram flour ( channa flour)

1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon ginger paste

½ teaspoon garlic paste

a handful of coriander leaves. chopped

oil to fry, use medium heat on stove top.

Pour oil in a wok and switch the stove on to heat the oil.

In the meantime put all the above ingredients in a bowl and mix it well.

Take one slice of potato at a time and put about 10-12 slices in the hot oil, using a slotted spoon turn the potatoes over . Cook for about 6-8 minutes till the potatoes are cooked and are crispy. Remove the fried potatoes and drain them on a paper towel on a plate.

Serve hot with the chutney below

Chutney
1 small onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped
a handful of coriander leaves, chopped
2 green chillies, chopped

¼ carrot, grated

Blend all the above ingredients together in a processor, add salt and serve.

Cutlets (Katlasi)

No idea the origins of this dish on the Coastal region of Kenya, but it surely is popular on the streets in Ramadhan during Iftar. With the coming of Arabs and South Asians a lot of meals were integrated into the local community and if they didn’t find their own spices or ingredients they used what ever was available.
I remember my mum making these amazing cutlets when I was a child, the taste is out of this world! And one is never enough!!
My mum, the best cook ever!!

You can use ground fish,/minced chicken, ground beef or goat

First things first, cook your meat ( what ever option you choose)

½ pound ground beef

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon ginger paste

1 teaspoon garlic paste

Cook the above in a pot till dry.

In a bowl add the below-
4 potatoes- boiled, peeled and mashed
½ tsp salt
½ tsp turmeric pd
2 green chillies chopped
a few sprigs coriander leaves, chopped
1 small onion, chopped

Bread crumbs to coat
1 egg , beaten for egg coat ( I like to add 1 tablespoon water to prevent the foam forming while frying)

oil for frying- you can deep fry or shallow fry

Mix all the seven ingredients together to form a nice mixture to form a ball. Take about 1½ tablespoon of the mixture and form either a sausage shape or a flat patty ( choice is all yours). Lightly dip it in bread crumbs and keep aside, Continue making other patties till mixture is done. Heat oil on medium heat and dip the patties in the beaten egg and fry till golden, make sure to turn to evenly fry on both sides. Serve with ketchup or coconut chutney.

Now for some healthy options….

Viazi Taamu

4 Jamaican sweet potatoes, peeled and thickly sliced
1 cup coconut milk
½ tsp cardamom pd

Put all the above ingredients in pot, cover and cook till the sweet potatoes are half soft.
Add ½ cup sugar and cook further till soft. Can be served warm or cool.

Sweet Potato Salad

2 sweet potatoes, boiled and cut in fairly medium pieces
1 can mixed beans, drained and washed ( I do like reboiling my beans to make them softer)
1 green onion chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 Tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp Olive oil
Toasted sesame seeds to sprinkle

Mix all together, sprinkle sesame seeds and serve cold or at room temperature.

Sweet Potato Salad 2

2 sweet potatoes, boiled, peeled and cut in pieces

1 avocado, peeled and cut in pieces

A few leaves Baby spinach

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

Put all the ingredients together, sprinkle lemon juice and a few sunflower seeds, serve.

If you want to serve it later, then it’s best to sprinkle lemon juice during serving time. Salad keeps well in the fridge for up to a day or two.