Hari Raya Favourites Around the World

Eid al-Fitr (also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Hari Raya Puasa) is a Muslim festival celebrated worldwide. It signifies the union and joyous celebration between family and friends, and also marks the end of Ramadan and the start of festive feasting. Whether you like your food savoury or sweet, there’s definitely something to whet your taste buds!

Here are some dishes enjoyed by Muslims around the world during the occasion — each one unique to a country’s culture.

A classic dumpling rice dish that is believed to have stemmed from Javanese and Malaysian origins, Ketupat is made by wrapping sticky rice into a triangular coconut leaf parcel, and then steamed to perfection. It is served with satay (chicken, beef or lamb skewers), a crunchy peanut sauce and cucumbers to make a complete meal. While prepared and enjoyed by Muslim communities everywhere, the dish is most commonly found in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

For Muslims in Turkey, Eid is known as Ramazan Feast and is a three-day holiday. The first day is referred to as ‘Şeker Bayramı’ or the ‘candy festival’, and it is customary for young children to visit their neighbours with well wishes. They are then given sweet treats such as baklava, a sweet pastry made from layers of filo and filled with nuts — held together with syrup or honey.

Sheer Korma is a traditional dessert hailing from Central Asia, namely Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The dish consists of roasted wheat vermicelli in sweetened milk, sprinkled with nuts, and can be enjoyed both warm and cold. Sheer Korma is a must-have dish served on the morning of Eid after the breakfast prayer, and is also offered to any visiting guests.

Kabsa is a popular national recipe in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The hearty and delicious dish consists of rice, a mixture of spices, and served with braised meat on top. During Eid, it is usually topped with roasted lamb. To enjoy the dish, have your guests sit in a circle around the dish and tuck in. It’s truly the perfect conversation starter for the festive occasion.

A cookie filled with nuts and covered in white sugar, Kahk is a special dessert that has deep associations with Egyptian history. Before the end of Ramadan, many bakeries in Egypt will stock them to prepare for the breaking of fast. While certain Middle Eastern countries use dates in their version of Kahk, they are traditionally stuffed with a special honey filling, walnuts, pistachios, or simply just sprinkled with a dusting of sugar.