Recipes that are sure to make your mouth water this Eid-al-Fitr – US News about Policy, Capitol Hill and State Legislatures

And just like that, Ramadan, the holy month Muslims worldwide look forward to each year, has come to an end. With today being the last day of fasting for many across the globe, special meals are being prepared to celebrate the holiday of Eid-al-Fitr.

Eid-al-Fitr literally means the “holiday of breaking the fast.” It follows a full moon marking the end of Ramadan, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink every day for 30 days, from sunrise to sunset. Throughout Ramadan, families and people of different backgrounds each have traditions and foods they are accustomed to eating to break their fast or have their Iftar. Being the joyous holiday it is, Eid is no different. Celebrations are big and the meals eaten are some of the most delicious and fanciest meals Muslims eat all year. People celebrate a month of reflection, peace, and control with special meals that vary culture by culture and family by family, but one thing remains the same: the idea to start the day off with something sweet.

Traditionally on Eid, the day begins with a morning prayer as on any day, but this one is specific to Eid itself. But before going to the prayer, it is tradition to start the day off with something sweet, even if it’s just a bite as your first meal of the day. This practice, known as sunnah, follows the actions of the last prophet in Islam Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). While some begin the day with a date since it’s naturally sweet, some cultures prepare special dishes just for Eid that signify the day of fasting has ended.

Because of this, Eid-al-Fitr is dubbed “sweet Eid.” To get you all as excited as I am to begin the holiday celebrations, here are some recipes for common Eid sweets that people around the world make.

1. Sheer Khurma or Seviyan

A staple in South Asian households—especially those of Pakistani, Indian, or Bangladeshi descent—this pudding is simple to make and mouthwatering to eat. My mom makes this dish twice a year—once during Eid-al-Fitr and once during Eid-al-Adha, and it’s always worth the wait. While seviyan is dry, made with vermicelli fried in sugar or syrup, sheer khurma is prepared with vermicelli, milk, and sugar. It is essentially a sweet pasta pudding—that’s what I called it as a kid. Depending on your country of origin, to top it off you may add dates, pistachios, almonds, raisins, or even rose petals.

Here’s a recipe for you to try seviyan and sheer khurma at home.

Laasida

In Northern Africa, two dishes are very common to celebrate the start of Eid: tagine, a meat dish, and laasida, a sweet. In Morocco especially, people like to start off the day with laasida. While it looks like a simple rice pudding, it’s made up of much more, including couscous, butter, honey, and spiced seasoning. People often serve it with a side with fruit, making it a tasty alternative to your everyday yogurt.

Here’s a recipe for you to try it at home!

3. Maamoul

Eaten in countries like Syria and Lebanon, maamoul is a popular shortbread cookie that contains various types of stuffing. Popular stuffing options for the cookies include nut fillings, like pistachios, almonds, and walnuts, or even more commonly, dates! The cookies are topped with powdered sugar; a similar version of them is served in countries like Iraq, Egypt, and Sudan.

Here’s a recipe for you to try these amazing cookies!

4. Cambaabur

A Somali bread known to be served on Eid, cambaabur is to die for. While it can be served with spices, on Eid this dish is sweet and sprinkled with yogurt and sugar to create a mouthwatering combo.