Updated in 2010.

Ramadan (in Turkish, Ramazan) is a holy time for the Islamic tradition, that takes place every year, on the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. It lasts about a month.  It represents the historic milestone for when the Prophet Mohammad (Hazreti Muhammed) started receiving the verses of the Holy Book of Islam, Kuran (Koran, Q’uran). During this time, Muslims around the world fast and abstain from foods and liquids and certain behaviors to show their commitment to the Islamic faith, their beliefs and to improving their self-restraint, as called for by Kuran. 

This year, Ramadan is taking place in August through mid September. During this time, the fasting tradition calls for the believers to wake up before the sunrise, eat and drink but completely abstain from eating and drinking once the sun rises, up until the sunset.  Upon sunset, the people who fast will congregate with their family, sometimes friends, to break their fast together, and have the long awaited meal and drinks. 

After a month long period of fasting - some people may choose to do it shorter or not at all, due to health or age related reasons - , the completion of the holy month is celebrated in Turkey with a special holiday called the Candy or Ramadan Holiday (Şeker Bayramı).  The candy holiday is an official holiday and a time during which friends and family visit their elders in their homes, offer candy and chocolates, more traditionally baklava or other traditional middle eastern desserts.  Family values, traditions and the joy of eating are celebrated. So, here at Foods of Turkey, we celebrate the month of Ramadan, with and for all of our foodie readers.  During Ramadan, food is cherished, appreciated more and special traditional Ramadan foods flood the markets. In this piece, we will introduce you to some of these unique foods and dishes, and the traditions related to them.

Hurma (Dates)

In Turkey, it is customary to break a fast eating a date. It is not clear where the tradition comes from but it is known that dates have various health benefits including many related to improved digestion and regulation of blood sugar.  These fruits of palms also have historical significance and mention in the Islamic history as part of the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramazan Pidesi (Special Pita Bread for Ramadan)

Every day in Ramadan, I used to run to the local bakery, very excited, to get these fluffy pita breads with black sesame seeds on top, (I still do when I am in Turkey during Ramadan) as they came out and were distributed to the crowds waiting, still hot to the touch. They were such a delight to start the meal with, accompanied with some cheese and walnuts.  What is better than a hearty, warm bread, especially when you are really hungry?

Güllaç (Pronounced as Gullach)

This traditional dessert is probably the most common sight in food stores and restaurants during Ramadan. The dessert consists of thin layers of pastry sheets soaked in milk and rose water, with crushed pistachios in between, decorated also with crushed pistachios and pomegranate seeds. Its light texture allows for double servings for hungry crowds as they break their fast.  What a delight!  See our recipe for Güllaç in EAT.

Baklava and Other Middle Eastern Desserts

If you visit Turkey in the holy month of Ramadan, you would notice that in various restaurants, rich, buffet meals are served for the clientele going out to dinner to break their fast. The breaking of the fast is a ceremony in itself as the clients and the staff wait for the sunset, all together. In these buffets and at home, among the desserts served are the traditional middle eastern pastries with syrup, like baklava and “şöbiyet”.  It is also customary to bring a box of baklava or similar when visiting the homes of your elders and relatives during the Ramadan holiday, once the fasting period is over. The younger family members visit their elders in their homes, bring desserts, candy or chocolate and have a good time and conversation over Turkish tea or coffee.  The holiday and the Holy Month are times to reconnect and revisit family values.

Helva (Halvah)

Another dessert sure to get your blood sugar going is halvah. Halvah sales are also known to shoot up during Ramadan in Turkey and the varieties sold for this thick paste made with sesame or tahini include chocolate, pistachio or plain. 

Tahin and Tahinli Pide (Tahini and Pita or Flat Bread with Tahini)

Tahini and the Turkish pita bread made with layers of tahini are among the other popular Ramadan foods. Tahini is a paste of sesame seeds and the rich tahini flat bread is made with tahini mixed into layers of dough and baked for a really greasy but scrumptious bread. 

Tulumba Tatlısı (Tulumba Dessert)

Yes, more dessert. Tulumba dessert can simply be described as fried balls of dough soaked in heavy syrup. This dessert is another delight to eat and give during the holy month and the following holiday.

If you are intrigued and would like to try a few of these items or to celebrate Ramadan at home, please see our related articles on where to find and buy these Ramadan specialties, on the middle of this page.

Happy Ramadan!

Meltem

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