Darina Allen: Home made falafels and Turkish flatbreads to help break the fast on Ramadan

"After sunset prayers, many families invite neighbours and friends to join them to break the fast so Ramadan is also a time of sharing and celebration."

Falafel, best served with Tahini: a shareable dish

This week, I wanted to understand more about the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which, this year started at sunset last Monday. It follows the lunar calendar and begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. Islamic tradition states that it was during Ramadan that God revealed the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book to the Prophet Mohammad as guidance for his people.

Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar marks the beginning of Sawm, the Arabic word for fasting.