Top 3 irresistible Iftar recipes

Eid al-Fitr is a special occasion that marks the end of the month of Ramadan. It is that time of the year when family and friends come together and indulge in delicious food with rich with flavours and spices. Whether you are hosting an iftar party or simply celebrating with your loved ones at home, you would want try these mouth-watering delicacies. From savoury meat dishes to sweet desserts, Voltas Beko has got you covered with some amazing recipes that will satisfy your taste buds and make your Eid celebrations even more special.

1. Shawarma-Stuffed Pita Bread- Stuffed pita bread with shawarma meat, hummus, and pickled veggies for a delicious fusion sandwich.

Ingredients:

• 4 pieces of pita bread
• 1 lb. shawarma meat
• 1 cup hummus
• 1 cup pickled veggies (such as sliced onions, carrots, and cucumbers)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• In Voltas Beko microwave-safe bowl, heat up the shawarma meat for 2-3 minutes, its Active Defrosting feature makes sure your food becomes frost free and saves you the hassle of defrosting manually.
• Warm up the pita bread in your microwave for 10-15 seconds, or until they are soft and pliable.
• Spread hummus on one side of each pita bread.
• Add shawarma meat and pickled veggies on top of the hummus.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Fold the pita bread in half to create a sandwich and serve immediately.

2. Mughlai Biryani: Layer saffron-infused rice with marinated meat and a creamy egg mixture for a decadent and rich biryani.

Ingredients:

For the rice:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp saffron threads
• 1/4 cup warm milk
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 green cardamom pods
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Salt to taste

For the meat:

• 1 lb boneless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste
• Oil for cooking

For the egg mixture:

• 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cream
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

• Rinse the rice thoroughly until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Drain the water and set aside.
• In a small bowl, soak the saffron threads in warm milk and set aside.
• In a large bowl, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the soaked rice, bay leaves, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, and salt. Cook the rice in microwave until it is about 75% done, then drain the water and set the rice aside.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the chicken pieces with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt. Mix well and marinate for atleast an hour.
• Add the marinated chicken and microwave until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, cream and salt. Add the hard-boiled egg slices to the mixture and set aside.
• Preheat the microwave to 350°F.
• In a large baking dish, layer the rice, cooked chicken, and egg mixture, repeating until all ingredients are used up. Drizzle the saffron milk over the top layer of rice.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake it in the Voltas Beko microwave for 30 minutes. It comes with a digital display that will help you check if the rice is baked properly.
• Remove the foil and bake the dish for another 10-15 minutes or until the top layer of rice is lightly golden.
• Garnish with fried onions, chopped fresh mint and cilantro.
• Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Mughlai Biryani!

3. Baklava: A sweet Mediterranean cuisine made of layers of paper-thin phyllo dough, chopped nuts, and honey or syrup.

Ingredients:

For the filling:

• 2 cups chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves

For the syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 lemon, juiced

For the pastry:

• 1 lb phyllo dough
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions:

• Preheat the microwave to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and cloves.
• Lay out the phyllo dough on a clean, flat surface. Cut the dough to fit the size of the baking dish. Brush the baking dish with melted butter.
• Place a sheet of phyllo dough in the dish and brush it with butter. Repeat with another sheet of phyllo dough and butter.
• Add a layer of the walnut mixture on top of the phyllo dough.
• Repeat the layering process with the phyllo dough and butter, adding a layer of the walnut mixture between each layer of phyllo dough, until all the walnut mixture is used up.
• Top the last layer of walnut mixture with several sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each layer with butter.
• Cut the baklava into diamond shapes using a sharp knife.
• Bake the baklava in the pre-heated Voltas Beko microwave for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown, its auto-cook program enables you to get your favourite recipes ready at the touch of a button.
• While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, honey, cinnamon stick, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• When the baklava is done, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the hot syrup over the top.
• Allow the baklava to cool and soak up the syrup for several hours before serving.

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