A Spanish Iftar

My friends and I decided to get together for an Iftar (breaking of the fast dinner). We thought having a theme would be a great way to focus on the food, as well as make it easier to come up with dishes each one of us would be responsible to make. We got together a couple hours before sunset and cooked together. It was fun and went fast since we were all doing something to contribute to the meal. I made the Seafood and Chicken Paella as well as the Sangria Fabricada (non-alcoholic fruit juice drink with real fruit added) and a few other things. Scroll down to see the complete menu.

On the menu:

• Chilled Gazpacho (Cucumber & Tomato Soup)
• Seafood & Chicken Paella
• Baked Mussles in Tomato Sauce & Olive Oil
• Patatas Bravas with Marinara Sauce
• Roasted Red Pepper and Olive Salad
• Baked Goat Cheese & Tomato Sauce
• Sangria Fabricada (Non-Alcoholic Grape Juice with Fresh Fruits)
• Mango Sorbet & Fresh Mango Dessert
• Fresh Ricotta, Honey and Blackberry Jam Dessert with Biscotti

Baked Mussels in Tomato Sauce (Add a bit of grape juice to the pan and bake at 350º for about 30 minutes). Topped with fresh parsley. Discard any mussels that do not open.

The pics above show some of our side dishes from top left corner, clockwise:  Mixed Olive Salad; Salty, Smoked & Toasted Almonds; Sicilian Red Pepper & Olive Salad; Patatas Bravas with Marinara Sauce

Above was the Sangria Fabricada (non-alcoholic Fruit Juice). To  it I added oranges, lemons, limes, peaches and two kinds of grapes. It was delicious!

The Spanish Tortilla is a classic Spanish tapa, or appetizer and must be had at any Spanish-themed party. Cut into bite-size pieces and served with toothpicks, it goes great with other Mediterranean dishes. It’s basically a thick omelette packed with potatoes and onions- hearty and savory.

This post was written to give you an idea of some of the dishes you can prepare if you’re planning a Spanish-themed party or dinner, but also to show how choosing a theme can really make things easier for yourself and fun if you’re cooking with friends and family. I am blessed to know some of the nicest human beings on the planet and even more fortunate to be able to call them my friends. Whatever you make, I suggest do it with those whose company you enjoy the most.

I’ll try to make the recipes available on My Halal Kitchen soon. For now, let it serve as inspiration for your own cooking. Let me know what you have cooking!

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