The Ramadan Kitchen

by Ilhan Mohamed Abdi

This definitive cookbook is filled with over 80 delicious recipes that capture the spirit and flavours of Ramadan. A timeless, approachable guide to cooking and preparing Ramadan meals, designed to help families savour flavourful heritage meals without the stress, especially during the holy month.

‘This beautiful book teaches me so much more. It is written with elegance and grace, conveying gentle intimacy and reflectiveness.’ – Nigella Lawson

As a working mother, Ilhan understands the time constraints of modern lifestyles. Her cherished family recipes are all about nourishing food that feeds the soul as well the body.

With simple, satisfying meals suited to the quiet rhythms of suhoor and iftar, as well as generous Eid spreads to share with family and friends, the recipes all use easily accessible ingredients and simplified methods, without sacrificing on flavour.

By weaving flavours and techniques from various cultures, The Ramadan Kitchen celebrates the rich tapestry of Ramadan culinary traditions from around the world, making it a valuable resource for anyone who observes Ramadan as well as those who wish to understand and appreciate authentic Muslim home cooking and culture.

Recipes

Bariis Somali – Aromatic Somali RiceFuul Mudammas – Stewed Fava Beans with Eggs and FetaSuqaar – Diced Beef and Vegetable SautéBur – Cardamom-Spiced BeignetsTimir Cake – Spiced Date Cake with Caramel SauceRefreshing Watermelon Mocktail


The significance of Ramadan, preparing for Ramadan, meal planning, grocery tips and more

Quick and nutrient-dense recipes for wholesome pre-dawn meals

Classic recipes to break the fast, honouring traditional dishes and time-saving techniques

Comforting, hearty soups, stews and curries, with many vegetarian and vegan options

Authentic flatbreads, samosas and no-knead bakes

No-bake and quick desserts plus traditional sweets with simplified methods

Hydrating beverages and refreshing smoothies

Recipes for Eid al-Fitr and special occasion dishes, perfect for sharing

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

Reviews

[OneDayI'll]

A lot of really great recipes. Check your spice racks as some are not standard in many kitchens. But a really good collection across many types of meals, desserts, beverages, sides, and meat or meatless options.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just skimmed this but looked great! Appreciated the simple but interesting recipes with widely available ingredients and Imperial measurements along with the metric ones

[David Carriere]

The Ramadan Kitchen is a warm, generous, and deeply practical cookbook that honors the spiritual rhythm of Ramadan while meeting the realities of modern family life. Ilhan Mohamed Abdi brings together nourishment, heritage, and accessibility in a way that feels both timeless and refreshingly grounded.

What sets this book apart is its understanding of Ramadan not just as a collection of meals, but as a lived experience. The recipes are thoughtfully suited to the quiet, sustaining needs of suhoor, the comforting rituals of iftar, and the joyful abundance of Eid. Each dish feels purposeful designed to restore energy, foster connection, and reduce stress during a month that is spiritually rich but often physically demanding.

Abdi’s approach is especially compelling for working families. The recipes use accessible ingredients and streamlined methods without sacrificing depth of flavor or cultural integrity. By weaving together culinary influences from across the Muslim world, The Ramadan Kitchen reflects the diversity of Ramadan traditions while remaining firmly rooted in authentic home cooking.

Beyond the recipes, the book offers valuable guidance on meal planning, preparation, and hydration, making it as much a companion for the month as it is a cookbook. Whether you are observing Ramadan, cooking for loved ones who are, or seeking to better understand Muslim food culture, this book is welcoming, informative, and nourishing in every sense.

The Ramadan Kitchen is poised to become a trusted staple one families will return to year after year.

[Kirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

At 223 pages, this Ramadan inspired cook book, is organized with the holy month in mind, but provides recipes that will work the whole year through.  With a few pages of text, reflection, and background before each of the eight sections: Suhoor, Iftar, Mains, Breads, Spices & Chutneys, Dessert, Drinks, and Eid, the author allows for the pages filled with the recipes themselves to be clear and less cluttered.  The individual recipes feature a description for a header, with some encouragement and guidance of how to change the recipe up and make it your own.  Some recipes have pictures, some are just text, and some are followed by two page spreads that show plating, pairings, or guidance for preparation.  The book stays focused on food with minimal religious inclusions aside from the religious framing, nothing that would make the book limited to a Muslim kitchen.  I liked the organization and found it intuitive and look forward to trying many of the Somali dishes that stand out to me in making this a unique collection, and a benefit to my shelf.

The book feels authentic in both the way Ramadan is presented and celebrated, and the approach and constraints of preparing meals. The personal commentary is very relatable and does a good job of conveying the factual with the spiritual, the goals with the reality, the food with the nourishment, and the multitudes that exists at different stages of life and even a different times of the blessed month as tiredness and excitement compete. Whether you pick up the book to thumb through and read, or grab it to find inspiration for a meal, the book has a lot to offer and return to.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ramadan Kitchen: Nourishing Recipes from Fast to Feast is a beautifully conceived cookbook that goes far beyond meal preparation, offering a heartfelt celebration of faith, culture, and community. Ilhan Mohamed Abdi presents Ramadan cooking as both a practical and deeply meaningful act, blending nourishment, tradition, and intention into a collection designed to support families throughout the holy month.

What makes this book especially powerful is its balance of authenticity and accessibility. The thoughtfully curated recipes ranging from quick suhoor dishes to comforting iftar meals and festive Eid celebrations reflect the global diversity of Ramadan while remaining approachable for modern households. With its emphasis on time saving techniques, nutritional balance, and cultural storytelling, The Ramadan Kitchen stands out as both a trusted culinary guide and a keepsake that can be shared across generations. It is a cookbook that truly feeds both body and soul.

[Lisa Citron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shorter days make for easier fasts, but leave less time to get ready to break fast. This cookbook is well-organized, with recipes organized for suhoor, iftar, mains, breads, sweets, and even a section for Eid. Everything is relatively simple to prepare, nutritious, and the recipes I've made so far have been a big hit with my family (I started with it before Ramadan to try recipes out, not wanting any unfortunately surprises when I couldn't taste as I cooked.)

[Margaret Gerberding · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique cookbook focusing on foo to break your fast during Ramadan. I found several recipes I want to try!

[Salah · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time I've gone out and bought a cookbook. Chef Ilhan has filled this with many wonderful recipes inspired by her Somali-Egyptian heritage.

It's nice to see our cuisine getting more mainstream recognition. One thing I've always struggled with is naming/describing our dishes to outsiders-this book provides a vocabulary (Beignets 🧐🎩✨) and a place to point people towards.

I highly recommend getting a copy. The photograph prints inside are super high quality and overall the book has been amazingly designed and put together. And yes while it is still Ramadan now, the recipes here can be made all year round.