Inside: Want to involve your children in making Iftar? I am sharing a list of Ramadan Recipes for Kids to make.
Updated April 2020:
In 2017, I invited my children into my kitchen to make a dish or more. We have done this in 2018 and 2019 too. My children are very excited to be cooking again this Ramadan. The post below is to help you set the cooking with kids theme in your home. I’d like to invite you to post pictures of your children making Iftaar too. We are using the hashtag #iftaarwithkids on Instagram.
Every day, through this month, I have been inviting my children into the kitchen. I’m sure you will relate that our best memories of Ramadan are definitely the sitting down together to eat at iftaar. The family life, the discussions, the connections… there is so much to learn and appreciate together.
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This year, I have a 10 year old son and two 3 and 5 year old daughters. Lucky for us, our summer break has just started and all of them are at home. I find it as a perfect opportunity to teach them more about our traditions and culture.
We have a daily plan that involves a bit of learning – Quran, Dua and a book; praying together, some fun craft or activity and then some chores to keep the boredom at bay.
Alhamdulillah, that my little girls are a bit bigger now because in the past, juggling two toddlers and Ramadan was very busy.
Ramadan is the perfect opportunity to teach our children about our traditions and culture.
As we all know, kids cannot learn those by themselves. Things like cooking, our food, how we serve, our traditions, the way we treat others is something that needs to be taught.
Of course, cooking is a skill that your children will need to practice for the rest of their lives. While we were doing our Manners for Muslim Children series, we had numerous opportunities to talk about serving and feeding others as an act of charity.
When we did the lesson about N for Neighbours, I let them make their own Iftar dish too. They felt pride in their dish and the fact that people had appreciated them and their efforts. This little confidence carried forward through the year.
I grew up in a family where my father put special emphasis that we all help our mother set the table; so that she isn’t running about at iftaar exhausted and unable to utilize or enjoy the time for prayer. I feel, Alhamdulillah, blessed that my husband has the same belief. In the past years, even though we had little babies, he would place them in the high chairs and get the elder ones to help him with different activities like, peeling, plucking or arranging the fruits or just to run and fetch things.
Every year, my kids and I, set a theme for Ramadan.
This year, we are just the right age. My eldest is almost 10yrs old and my youngest will be entering Kindergarten soon. So, I have decided to be brave enough to let all three of my children into the kitchen. So this year our theme is called Kids in the Kitchen.
Kids in the Kitchen Series: Children make Iftar
As the name suggests, the idea is that the children will be in the kitchen at an allowed time helping me cook. They can make their own dish or join in with helping me.
This year, we are taking it a step further because my 10 year old son loves to cook and my daughters enjoy helping him. We let them make a dish or two by themselves every day.
Cooking or helping set the table, children learn about responsibility, charity, respect and of course to appreciate food. It is the best way to help picky eaters learn to try other foods too.
How we set themes: I start by setting a schedule for Ramadan and I try to include as much learning and fun as possible. For this reason, it is never just one theme running. We couple learning with craft or art or book etc. Previously, my kids were too small to help me cook.
Why you should invite your children to make Iftar in Ramadan
Kids in the kitchen is hard. Some days, it may be chaotic. As we all know, children get very excited when they start something new but eventually we all learn to work side by side.
I know this because I grew up in a household where children were required to do chores. We were always encouraged to help our parents in every way we could. It is our responsibility and duty as part of being a family. My parents taught us that helping around the house and cleaning up after ourselves is a form of showing respect to our parents. It is also how we show gratitude for the things we have.
Related : Here is a list of age appropriate Chores for Kids in Ramadan.
In Ramadan, my father would help out at Iftaar time by setting the table and cutting fruits. My best memories are of him sitting at the head of the table cutting melons while we ran about fetching things. My brothers would help Dad while we girls helped Mom in the kitchen.
Fast forward to now, my husband does the same thing. Even though we had babies, he would sit the kids at the table and teach them the Adhkaar (duas) while cutting fruits.
These seem like simple acts of family traditions, but they build on and teach our children their manners. When we start young, it becomes a part of their character to be helpful, responsible and respectful of those around them.
Cooking or helping set the table, children learn about responsibility, charity, respect and of course to appreciate food. It is the best way to help picky eaters learn to try other foods too.
But… what can little children cook for iftar?
I’m sharing 30 Iftar recipes below that even your littlest can make.
Please note that children should be supervised while in the kitchen. Make sure that you are using tools that are safe for their age. Make sure you are using ingredients that are safe for their allergies or any health conditions that they may have.
Easy Iftar Recipes for Kids to make
Juices and smoothies:
This is the easiest and the most fun way for kids. My children love to press the ‘buzz’ button. I give them a bowl to put in all the fruits and other ingredients which I transfer to the mixie jug. I fix it up and make sure that it is locked in place and they only have to buzz it. My son is old enough now to carry it on by himself but I have to make sure the little girls aren’t around him. Here are a few types for you to try.• Strawberry milk shake: Frozen strawberries+ milk+ sugar.
• Avocado shake: Very ripe avocado+ milk+ sugar
• Pinna Colada: Coconut+ Pineapple+ milk+ sugar
• Fresh Carrot and Orange juice
• Rooh Afza
• Rooh Afza Lassi – Butter milk +Rooh Afza
Salads and no cook meals:
Salads are another fun category for kids. Every since I taught my children to make salads, they love to experiment. Simple dips and sauces are another thing that your children can make independently. Try these below.
• Corn cucumber salad : diced Corn + diced Cucumber + a simple( olive oil + salt + lemon juice) dressing
• Classic Baleela or chickpea salad– We herein Saudi Arabia love our Baleela. It is the easiest chick pea salad ever! Previously pressure cooked Chickpeas or store bought boiled ones ( drained) + pickled cucumber or beets (diced very small)+ dressing ( hot chilli sauce + 1 tsp vinegar + salt).
• Arabian salad – diced cucumbers + spring greens+ diced capsicum + tomatoes + arabian dressing (olive oil + lemon juice+ coriander powder + salt)
• Guacamole and chips
• Humus and vegetables julienne
Folding and wrapping:
I will be honest: I hate folding and wrapping 20-30 samosa! But… kids love it!! So go ahead and teach them this (life skill?). Just give them the fillings that you have prepared.
• Samosa
• Spring rolls
• Puff pastries
Cutting, peeling and plucking fruits.
My kids love to do this. Their father started them on this. He would ask them to pluck the grapes off the stem or peel the bananas for the salad and now it is a competition. Ok, so they will eat some ( umm… most) of it but it is ok. The older ones usually listen and mind the younger ones.
• Fruit salad
• Fruit chat
Dates :
This is my son’s favourite recipe. He has like 20 versions of how dates should be served!
• Chocolate dipped dates: just melt chocolate, fill the dates with sum dry fruit paste and dip in the hot chocolate
• Dates and almonds: Blanche the almonds or boil to soften and remove skin. Cut the dates and insert the almond in place of the seed.
Quick desserts:
When I first started cooking with my kids, I started the Montessori way. At the age of 2.5 years, I taught them how to stir and pour. The best way to teach that was to let them make these quick desserts. I used store bought packets for these. If your children don’t have allergies then once in a while this is a good idea too.
• Jello – Prepare the hot water in advance and follow the instructions.
• Crème caramel– many brands have this quick instant version of crème caramel. You only have to add milk and stir.
• Muhallabia– if you live in the Middle East, I am sure you know about Muhallabia. It comes in an instant version. You just add milk, stir and then boil and pour. I let my kids do the mixing and stirring only.
• Bread pudding with crème caramel– this is the fun recipe where you just arrange the bread and add the crème caramel (mentioned above) till the slices are soaked. Place in the fridge till it sets and then decorate.
Aren’t these recipes above so much fun? These are just to give you an idea. I hope you will try them with your little ones. Do leave a comment below or hop on over to my Instagram or Facebook page to see what we are cooking in my kitchen.
Happy Ramadan! May the Almighty accept from you and me our prayers and our fasts!
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