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Recipe roundup

15 easy iftar snacks

Crisp, quick and made for breaking the fast: pakoras, chaat, rolls and cool drinks for the iftar table.

  1. 1 Pakistani · 30 min · serves 4

    Onion & Potato Pakoras

    Crisp gram-flour fritters with onion, potato and spinach. Made for rainy afternoons and a cup of chai.

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  2. 2 Pakistani · 15 min · serves 4

    Chana Chaat

    Tangy chickpea salad with potato, onion, tomato and tamarind chutney. The iftar favourite that works any afternoon.

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  3. 3 Pakistani · 25 min · serves 4

    Falsa Sharbat

    A deep purple summer cooler made from tart falsa berries, lightly sweetened and finished with black salt and mint. Cook it when falsay are in season and the days are hot.

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  4. 4 Pakistani · 1 h 5 min · serves 6

    Vegetable Spring Rolls

    Crisp, golden rolls filled with cabbage, carrot and capsicum in a peppery soy and garlic seasoning. A Ramadan and tea-time favourite that can be rolled ahead and fried when guests arrive.

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  5. 5 Pakistani · 1 h 10 min · serves 6

    Dahi Baray

    Soft, pillowy lentil dumplings soaked in whisked yogurt and topped with sweet-sour tamarind chutney and chaat masala. A cool, tangy snack for iftar or a gathering.

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  6. 6 Pakistani · 15 min · serves 4

    Shikanjvi

    A cooling, tangy-sweet lemonade spiced with roasted cumin, black salt and fresh mint. It takes ten minutes to make and is the drink to reach for on a hot afternoon or at iftar.

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  7. 7 Pakistani · 50 min · serves 4

    Fish Pakoras

    Bite-sized boneless fish coated in a spiced gram flour and rice flour batter, fried until crisp outside and flaky inside. Ideal with tea or as an Iftar starter.

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  8. 8 Pakistani · 1 h 30 min · serves 6

    Aloo Samosa

    Flaky, blistered pastry filled with spiced potato, peas and crushed coriander seed. Make a batch for iftar, tea time or guests, and fry them slowly for a crisp shell.

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  9. 9 Pakistani · 55 min · serves 4

    Papri Chaat with Chickpeas, Yogurt and Tamarind Chutney

    Crisp fried papri topped with spiced chickpeas, potato, cool yogurt and sweet-sour tamarind chutney. A quick street-style snack that is ready in minutes once the papri are made.

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  10. 10 Pakistani · 1 h 15 min · serves 6

    Gol Gappay

    Crisp hollow semolina shells filled with spiced chickpeas and potato, then topped with cold mint-tamarind water. A street-food favourite you can make at home for iftar or a party.

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  11. 11 Pakistani · 50 min · serves 4

    Aloo Tikki

    Golden shallow-fried potato patties with a crisp crust and soft, spiced centre. Serve them hot with tamarind or mint chutney for a filling tea-time snack.

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  12. 12 Pakistani · 20 min · serves 6

    Fruit Chaat with Chaat Masala, Lemon and Fresh Mint

    A cool, tangy-sweet bowl of mixed seasonal fruit tossed with chaat masala, lemon and mint. It takes 15 minutes and is a favourite for iftar tables and afternoon snacks.

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  13. 13 Pakistani · 1 h 15 min · serves 4

    Chicken Roll Paratha

    Tender spiced chicken strips, a cool mint-yogurt sauce and crunchy onions rolled inside a flaky, golden paratha. It's a filling street-style snack you can make at home in under an hour.

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  14. 14 Pakistani · 1 h 25 min · serves 6

    Chicken Samosa

    Golden, flaky samosas filled with dry-cooked spiced chicken mince, fresh mint and a squeeze of lemon. Make them from scratch with a simple ajwain dough, ideal for Ramadan iftar or tea time.

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  15. 15 Pakistani · 3 h 55 min · serves 6

    Jalebi

    Crisp, golden spirals of fermented batter soaked in warm saffron-cardamom syrup. Plan on a few hours of batter resting, then about half an hour of frying and dipping.

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