Islam is a global religion, both in the population distribution of Muslims and in the understanding of the ummah (or community) as a single body. Ramadan, therefore, is a global experience, with people celebrating in countries spanning from Norway to Mexico, Portugal to Myanmar, China to Zimbabwe. Every culture brings their traditions to this religious practice.
With well over 1 billion Muslims around the world, the below options are just a sampling of the diversity of culinary treats ready at the end of a day of fasting. You would likely see any one of these at an iftar, in addition to dates, of course.
Bonus feature: Check out our Fasting for Foodies section! You might just find a new recipe that you love.
Haleem: Slow-cooked stew of meat, bulgur wheat, and lentils (South Asia)
Kolak: A fruit dessert made from palm/coconut sugar, coconut milk, and pandanus leaf, sometimes including other ingredients such as bananas, sweet potatoes, tapioca balls, plantains, and pumpkin, it is served warm (Indonesia)
Rooh Afza: A syrup mixed with milk or water, with many different flavors, most notably rose, as well as multiple types of fruits and vegetables (South Asia)
Güllaç: Dessert made from pastry, milk, pomegranate, and walnuts, considered the origin of baklava (Turkey)
Harira: Soup of lentils, chickpeas, flour, tomatoes, onions, rice, and usually some sort of meat stock (North Africa)
Foule: Mashed fava beans mixed with tomatoes, lemon, and pepper, served with bread (Horn of Africa)
Harees: Wheat, butter, and meat (usually chicken), and can be topped with cinnamon or sugar (Arabian Peninsula)
Bean pie: Dessert similar to sweet potato pie, with a filling made from navy beans, butter, milk, eggs, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, and nutmeg (USA)
Fattoush: Salad made of vegetables and oven-roasted pita bread (The Levant)
Samosa: Fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, cheese, meat, or lentils (South Asia)
Yangrou Paomo: Soup with bread and lamb (China)
Qatayif: Dumplings filled with your choice of cheese, nuts, raisins, or coconut (The Levant)