Iftar With A Homey Twist

The month of Ramadhan is finally here! While this is typically the time where Malaysians of all walks of life would be absolutely spoilt for choice at Ramadhan bazaars, this year would be quite different. As government and health officials made the announcement to cancel public gatherings such as the Ramadhan bazaar to cope with the outbreak, Malaysians especially those from the Muslim community may see some changes to the environment. As such, many are afraid and worried about how this would affect the tradition and culture of this holy month.

However, it does not have to be that way. Let us always remember that just by being together with our loved ones marks the significance of Ramadhan. Therefore, we have put together 3 simple and healthier alternatives to Ramadhan bazaar favourites which you can whip up at home.

1. Roti John

This omelette style sandwich is typically filled with delicious minced beef or chicken and topped up with onions and chilli sauce. Though bursting with flavour, it can be quite unhealthy as the sandwich buns are essentially fried with butter or oil. Therefore, a healthier approach would be to toast the sandwich buns instead.

What you need:
• 2 wheat sandwich buns
• 1 egg
• Olive oil
• Minced meat of your choice
• Vegetables of your choice

Directions:
1. Beat the egg and season it with salt and pepper.
2. Grill the minced meat with olive oil and pat off any excess oil.
3. Spread the minced meat across the sandwich buns and drizzle with the beaten egg mixture.
4. Toast the sandwich buns in an oven at 180°C for 10-12 minutes.
5. Top it off with some fresh vegetables and indulge!

2. Tauhu Sumbat

There are several varieties to this stuffed tofu dish however, for a healthy alternative, opt for the ones which are stuffed with vegetables. This vegan-friendly dish is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals and a great way to get vegetables in your system. Though the tofu is typically fried, baking it would be a better choice.

What you need:
• 1 tofu block
• ¼ cucumber
• ¼ bean sprouts
• ¼ carrot
• Thai chilli sauce

Directions:
1. Grate the cucumber, turnip, bean sprouts and carrot and steam them.
2. Cut the tofu block into squares followed by quartering it into triangles. Cut a slit and proceed to bake 180°C for about 15 minutes.
3. Stuff the vegetables into the slit of the tofu.
4. Serve them with some Thai chilli sauce and enjoy!

3. Apam Balik

These pancakes are a favourite choice of dessert due to its rich texture and delightful sweet filling on the inside. Common fillings include sweet corn and sugar which is not the healthiest choice, therefore replacing it with coconut sugar and crushed peanuts are a better alternative. This is also vegan-friendly as no milk and eggs are needed.

What you need:
Pancake batter:
• ¾ wheat flour
• ¼ cup plain flour
• ¾ cup soymilk
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of salt

Fillings:
• Coconut sugar
• Crushed peanuts

Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients together and whisk to a smooth texture.
2. Heat up the pan with some butter and spread the pancake batter.
3. Once the batter is half-cooked, sprinkle the fillings to the centre of the batter.
4. Wait until the batter has fully-cooked, fold the pancake in half and serve it warm.