Dips and Sauces, Lunch and Dinner, Palestinian Cuisine, Ramadan, Rice, Sides and Appetizers

15+ Top Ramadan Appetizers and Sides

top appetizers and side dishes for Ramadan

As Ramadan approaches, people are preparing themselves, decorating their homes to welcome the holy month. In order to spread the Ramadan spirit and to impress my family and guests, I’m preparing a list of the Best 30 Ramadan Main Dishes and top Ramadan appetizers and sides. With this list of top Ramadan sides and appetizers, you will have plenty of inspiration for your Iftar menu to keep your loved ones satisfied.



FalasteeniFoodie Popular Pastry for Ramadan


A delicious staple on a Ramadan Iftar table is golden pastries made with love. These pastries will be your table’s main attraction! Give them a try or you will miss a lot of heavenly bites.

From golden crispy Msakhan Rolls to fluffy Sfeeha Yafawiyeh, these Palestinian pastries are unbeatable that one piece won’t be enough! They are two of the most popular appetizers among Palestinians.

Fill your house with the aroma of Spinach Fatayer, a very famous super fluffy pastry in the Middle East. Crispy Cheese Borek will be your new go-to appetizer for Ramadan. Crispy and creamy, it bursts with cheesy flavors.

Musakhan Rolls
A perfect Palestinian Musakhan roll is all about letting fresh, simple ingredients shine. Olive oil, tangy sumac, a hint of spice, caramelized onions, perfectly roasted chicken, and wrapped tortilla bread combine all together to create this golden roll.
Check out this recipe
Classic Palestinian Msakhan roll-ups are stuffed with delectable chicken, puckering sour sumac, sweet caramelized onions, delicious olive oil, and balanced out with the warmth of aromatic spices
Sfeeha Yafawiyeh (Spiral Meat Pies)
Sfeeha Yafawiyeh pies are unbeatable! Palestinian spiral pies stuffed with seasoned meat and chopped onions. The flaky outer crust and rich filling will satisfy your palate and leave you wanting more!
Check out this recipe
Yafawi sfeeha served on a golden platter garnished with arils, parsley, and sumac
Spinach Fatayer
Spinach Fatayer is so easy and bursts with flavors. They are perfect as a savory appetizer, an on-the-go snack, and a crowd-pleaser for your special occasions and Ramadan iftar! Enjoy the fluffy texture of the pie and the tasty filling.
Check out this recipe
A pie made with the 10 minute dough and filled with spinach and onion mixture.
Crispy Cheese Borek (Turkish Cheese Rolls)
The Crispy Cheese Borek is an authentic Turkish appetizer with stuffing phyllo dough and a mix of cheese. Since it's a quick and easy-to-make appetizer, it will go perfectly with any occasion, and it's a great match for Ramadan.
Check out this recipe

Dips to Dig In To

A collection of dips for Ramadan. It includes baba ghanoush, hummus bil lahme, garlic sauce, and Palestinian Tatbeeleh.
Decorate your table with these delectable dips. 

If we talk about Ramadan appetizers and sides, then dip recipes reign supreme!

A delectable appetizer across Middle East countries is Baba Ghanoush. It is the perfect match for grilled veggies, fish dishes, etc.

Hummus Bil Lahme is a savory Middle Eastern dip with a silky and smooth consistency. Spread the love by pairing this irresistible dip with beef kebabs, steak, and shawarma.

A wow combination with any chicken main dish is garlic sauce. It is a staple for the well-known Chicken Shawarma and a yummy way to dip French fries, chicken wings, and grilled veggies.

For an absolutely delicious spicy kick, try Palestinian Tatbeeleh. You can pair this spicy Palestinian sauce with almost any recipe you want and spread it on your favorite sandwich.  

Baba Ghanoush
The authentic Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush is prepared with a few simple ingredients. Flavorful, delicious, and a perfect side dish for almost anything. Give it a try today!
Check out this recipe
A tray with a plate of Mutabbal drizzled with olive oil, pomegranate seeds, and pine nuts.
Hummus Bil Lahme
Hummus bil lahme is simply a mouth-watering combination of creamy hummus blended with tahini, topped with spiced beef, pine nuts, and pomegranate seeds then garnished with olive oil and parsley.
Check out this recipe
Creamy hummus topped with meat, pine nuts, pomegranate, and chopped parsley
Garlic Sauce – Middle Eastern Toum
Are you looking for a creamy garlic sauce recipe to pair with your protein dishes? This garlic sauce recipe is perfectly light and fluffy, and the perfect pair to chicken, BBQ, and kebabs recipes. Try it now!
Check out this recipe
Its pure white color and rich consistency make it a visually appealing addition to any plate.
Palestinian Tatbeeleh (Shatta) (Spicy Salsa)
This Middle Eastern chilly sauce is healthy, aromatic, and delicious. All you have to do to enjoy this Tatbeeleh is throw your ingredients in a food processor and blitz.
Check out this recipe
Tatbeeleh (Shatta) in a jar with a spoon inside of it, Pita bread next to it. Baskets behind the jar.

Royal Middle Eastern Appetizers

If you are looking for royal Middle Eastern appetizers to indulge yourself, your family, and your guests, then you should go for Lebanese Fried Kibbeh and Stuffed Grape Leaves.

A must-try mezze platter is a crunchy fried kibbeh ball, a dreamy, mouthwatering appetizer. And you can never go wrong with grape leaves. It is full of flavor and will bring back cherished memories with every bite!

Stuffed Grape Leaves Recipe
Stuffed Grape Leaves burst with tangy, savory flavors that appeal to your taste buds. Stuff each leaf with a delicious rice and veggie mixture. Cook, serve, and enjoy!
Check out this recipe
Grape leaves stuffed with rice and veggies with slices of potatoes and carrots
Lebanese Fried Kibbeh Recipe
Fried Lebanese Kibbeh is a delicious appetizer or side dish that looks good to the eye and appeals to your taste buds. A crunchy outer shell with a tender flavorful inner filling of aromatic meat will make you crave more!
Check out this recipe
Fried meat and burghul balls stuffed with well-seasoned lean ground beef and pine nuts are the best appetizer to please both eyes and taste buds.

A group of royal Middle Eastern appetizers and sides for Ramadan. It includes fried kibbeh, stuffed grape leaves, vermicelli rice, and aromatic spiced yellow rice.
Make your iftar time more memorable.

Fluffy Bed of Rice

A perfect fit for any of your main dishes will be a bed of fluffy warm rice. Packed with bright Mediterranean flavors and spices, you will get a complete, satisfying meal after a long fasting day.

A perfect match for stews is vermicelli rice due to its simple preparation, heavenly taste, and fluffy texture.

Flavorful and fabulous, spiced yellow rice and vegetable rice pilaf are the perfect combination with any meat. Beef, chicken, turkey, seafood, and even stews recipes will be waiting to be paired with these fluffy sides.

Middle Eastern Vermicelli Rice (Ruz Bil Shi’iriya)
The combination of jasmine rice and vermicelli is bound to prove that it is the perfect companion for any main dish. So get your pot ready because you are about to make the best Middle Eastern Vermicelli Rice!
Check out this recipe
Middle Eastern Vermicelli Rice Ruz Bil Shi'iriya is the perfect staple food next to many arab dishes.
Aromatic Spiced Yellow Rice
Aromatic Spiced Yellow Rice is made with basmati and a festival of spices. The perfect complement for any meal. Looks gorgeous, tastes divine, and smells delicious.
Check out this recipe
The best Aromatic Spiced Yellow Rice that is simple and fast to prepare.
Easy Vegetable Rice Pilaf
Packed with bright Mediterranean flavors and spices, this vegetable rice pilaf is perfect for any dinner. It’s so good that you'll be eating it straight from the pot!
Check out this recipe
fluffy vegetable rice pilaf made up of Sella basmati rice and different veggies topped with toasted almonds and parsley before serving

Vegetarian, Vegan People Where Are You?

A group of best veggies appetizers for Ramadan. It includes vegetarian loaded eggplants, makdous, and tahini cauliflower recipes.
The perfection is in a veggie’s plate.

The easiest way to stick to a diet during the month of Ramadan is to include more veggies as they are loaded with fiber. These recipes are also a great option for vegan and vegetarian people.

An explosion of flavors for vegan and vegetarian people will be these loaded eggplants and tahini cauliflower recipes. Makdous is an integral part of the Mediterranean table. Enjoy it also during the holy month.

Vegan Cauliflower Tahini Bake
This cauliflower Tahini Bake recipe is the best vegetarian side dish to any meal. It will be your new go-to side dish for Ramadan! So what are you waiting for, vegetarian and vegan people? Give this recipe a try!
Check out this recipe
This authentic baked cauliflower with Tahini will uplift your table incredibly. Stay healthy with this mouthwatering side dish on any occasion.
Vegetarian Loaded Eggplant
This is the easiest, fastest, and most delicious Vegetarian Loaded Eggplant recipe, topped with a tasty combination of tomatoes and onions, a crispy molasses filling, and seasoned yogurt and walnuts.
Check out this recipe
delectable Vegetarian Loaded Eggplants with the perfect mixture of tomatoes and onions, crispy pomegranate stuffing and spicy and spicy yogurt
Makdous
Tickle your taste buds with Middle Eastern Makdous. These stuffed eggplants will take your meals to another level of deliciousness. Try it now!
Check out this recipe
Traditional stuffed makdous recipe served on a white plate garnished with chopped herbs

Must-Try Recipes:

Vegetarian Makloubeh

Middle Eastern Inspired Baked Salmon

Halal Cart Chicken and Rice

Saudi Chicken Kabsa

Instant Pot Beef Curry

Chicken and Spinach Stew

Middle Eastern Kufta Bil Tahiniye

Shish Barak-Dumplings in Yogurt

Burghul Mujadara

Middle Eastern Kidney Bean Beef Stew


If you’ve tried this recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

One thought on “15+ Top Ramadan Appetizers and Sides

  1. Sadia says:

    Thank you for this excellent list and top tips. So many beautiful recipes. You’re a real talent!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *