Enjoy different tastes, histories, stories and recipes, travel the world and discover the rich diversity of Muslim culture and heritage

Food is about People, Places, Culture and Identity. Memory and Inheritance. Who we are. Where we came from. What we love to share. It can take us to other places and other worlds. It can transport us back in time. And binds us to people we love.

These recipes and stories are a virtual invitation to break the daily Ramadan fast, to share food and experience, make virtual friends and celebrate the diversity of Muslim culture and heritage.

Ramadan 2020, 2021, 2022

In April 2020, the first Covid-19 lockdowns meant Ramadan would be very different. No invitations to nightly iftars to break the fast with extended family, friends, neighbours or the wider community. Just immediate family – in lockdown. Muslim leaders concerned for the community’s social and emotional wellbeing sought a new way to share food and personal stories and to welcome others when it was impossible to meet and eat face-to-face.

Recipes for Ramadan (originally a TV pitch) became that alternative way: an invitation to a virtual Iftar. Please try the recipes and enjoy the stories, photos and videos. And contribute your own. Join us for Iftar.

(Winner NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communication Awards 2021 – Best Use of Digital & Social Media)

What is Ramadan ?

The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide, Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

One of the Five Pillars of Islam, Ramadan lasts from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. Across the world, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The pre-dawn meal is called Suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast, when family and friends come together, is called Iftar.

How it works

Share Your Food, and Your Memories

Think about the recipes that remind you of your parents and grandparents. Talk to them or older relatives about the food they love to cook and serve, special recipes, memories of food, cooking and eating. Does your food reflect the land of your ancestors? Explore what your family traditionally served in Ramadan. Choose one recipe – something they or you would like to pass onto family and grandchildren, a gift to inherit. Think about related memories, stories, smells, flavours and the way food unlocks your history, the relationship of food to faith, culture, the lands of our ancestors, inheritance and legacy, memories to hand on to younger generations. Think about the meaning and significance of Ramadan and of fasting and inviting others to share your food.

If you can, cook your recipe – with younger or older members of your family. Maybe by Zoom. Tell us what this all means to you, share your recipe and you story, celebrate your family and your culture.

And enjoy every moment.

& Celebrate Your Family Story

All sorts of different images will enrich your recipe and your story. Photos of the dish you make, ingredients, preparation, cooking and cooking utensils, the finished dish, the meal on the table, a place setting at the table or wherever you eat, your family eating. A handwritten recipe – perhaps your grandmother’s or mother’s or yours. Or a family cookbook. Or photos of people and places - your parents or grandparents or you, a family home, where your forefathers (and foremothers!) lived, their homeland, a map, a flag drawn and coloured by your children….

And/or take video on your smartphone or mobile device. Look at the videos others have contributed. Have fun. Edit yourself or send your clips to us.

We’ll do it for you.

Submit your recipe & story
or
Contact us to explore further
Faq’s
Some frequently asked questions
Why is food such an important part of Ramadan?
Fasting from sunrise to sunset (no food, not even a sip of water) is an expression of selflessness and a physical way to focus on the needs of those in hardship or less privileged. Sharing food and breaking the with others at the end of the day is a way to share what you have, an act of generosity, love and charity. The daily fast is traditionally broken at sunset, first with a date and a drink, following the example of the Prophet Mohammed. Iftar is the name given to the evening meal. Suhor is the name given to breakfast taken before sunrise.
What kind of images are you most interested in? Can you give me any tips for taking photographs or making a video?
Try to track down images such as photos of people, places, location shots, a family home, map, handwritten recipes or old family cookery book… as well as photographing your cooking, ingredients, preparation, cooking utensils, the finished dish, meal ready to be served, your table dressed for Ramadan, family eating… it should be fun! A kind of Who Do You Think You Think Are? but using food and recipes to discover people and places, and celebrate your family and your history. Videos and photos that feel personal and have a sense of place will make your virtual Iftar feel personal and welcoming. If you email us, we will send you a technical guide with tips and suggestions for how to shoot interesting pictures and footage.
Do you have any future plans?
We are exploring the possibility of producing a book and perhaps a tv series or documentary as first envisaged. If you have any questions or suggestions, get in touch - we’d love to hear from you
Can I suggest recipes for breakfast (suhur) before the fast starts or is it just for iftar ideas to break the fast after sunset?
Yes, please. We love breakfast ideas. Shakshuka and Masala dosa are two favourites but we hope this community will love to share and try new things.
How do I submit my recipe and my story?
Please be aware when you contribute, you acknowledge that you are giving your permission for your recipe and contribution to be published on the Recipes For Ramadan website, social media and other media platforms and technologies. You will always be credited. If you wish to make changes, please contact us and we will make any reasonable requested changes as quickly as we reasonably can. If we are able to publish a community recipe book, we will contact you.
I love this project but I’m not Muslim or can’t cook. How can I be involved?
- Try new recipes - meet new people, hear their stories - Visit the website regularly for new recipes - Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and share our posts - Encourage your friends to visit us - Contact us for partner opportunities, intercultural programs for schools, or sponsorship to help fund our costs
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A special thanks to Canterbury Bonkstown Counsil for being major sponsor and for helping buil a great community
City of Canterbury Bankstown, situated in southwest metropolitan Sydney, is the largest Council, by population, in NSW. More importantly, it is home to one of the most richly diverse and multicultural communities in the state. Since its creation in 2016, CBCity, under the leadership of Mayor Khal Asfour has been working towards delivering services for and supporting the community. Mayor Asfour has also championed the City’s rich diversity and mosaic of cultures that make Canterbury-Bankstown the unique place that it is. That includes taking part in hosting Sydney’s largest Ramadan Festival, Ramadan Nights Lakemba. The festival, in the spirit of Ramadan, brings everyone together not just from within the community, but from afar to enjoy food from around the world. Sadly, the festival can’t go ahead this year, that’s why CBCity is proud to support Recipes for Ramadan.