Muslims from all over the world gather for a delicious iftar meal inspired by the history of their country (Shutterstock)
As the sun sets during the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims from all over the world gather to break their fast over dates and water followed by the basic breakfast meal.
There are about 1.9 billion Muslims around the world, roughly 25% of the world's population, yet for many, rising food prices mean that families have had to consider cutting back on some of their favorite Ramadan dishes.
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To find out the extent of the increase in the prices of various ingredients over the past year, Al Jazeera compared the prices of traditional meals from a variety of major supermarket chains in 14 countries around the world, which are as follows:
Argentina
From South America we have a locally inspired main dish with Beef Asado, which features different cuts of grilled meat with a tangy chimichurri-parsley sauce.
Chimichurri Tangy Parsley Sauce (Pixels)
Our side dishes include empanadas, a delicious popular pastry filled with ground beef or vegetables, while dessert includes dulce de leche tarts with a sweet, creamy caramel sauce topped with fresh fruit.
Empanadas (Al Jazeera)
Argentina saw one of the highest levels of inflation in the world, with the cost of food increasing by 303% in February 2024 compared to the same month the previous year.
To prepare this breakfast, Al Jazeera calculated that the cost of an individual meal is estimated at 7,200 pesos ($8.4) today, compared to about 1,782 pesos ($2) in 2023, which reflects an increase of more than 4 times.
Australia
For the largest island in the world, Australia's breakfast experience is a reflection of the country's multicultural landscape, blending flavors from around the world.
A popular street meal featuring a combination of halal snacks is a popular street food turned staple of lamb on a bed of hot chips and topped with garlic and barbecue sauce.
This meal is often served with a delicious lentil soup with vegetables. As for desserts, lamingtons can be added, which is a sponge cake covered in chocolate, filled with jam and decorated with dried coconut.
Lamington sweets (pixels)
As for the drink, it is customary to serve cold cordial, which is a refreshing concentrated fruit juice to hydrate the body after a summer day of fasting.
Like other Western countries, Australia has also struggled to reduce inflation.
Al Jazeera calculated the cost of this meal in 2024, which is about 12.5 Australian dollars ($8.1), while its cost was only 11 Australian dollars ($7) last year.
The biggest price increases came from key ingredients, including meat and eggs.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Among the highest Muslim populations in Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina features a variety of traditional foods that reflect its multicultural heritage.
A solid choice on the Bosnian breakfast table is pita krompiruša, a baked dish consisting of thin layers of filo dough filled with a delicious mixture of mashed potatoes, onions and spices.
In addition to pita krompiruša, tuba occupies a main place on the Bosnian table. It is a slow-cooked side dish consisting of melted cheese and butter. As for desserts, the most popular dessert on the Ramadan table is hormašica, which is a dessert saturated with concentrated syrup (syrup).
At the end of breakfast, drink a glass of Suc Od Drengina, a popular drink made from the fruit of the Cornelian cherry tree.
By combining all the meals, Al Jazeera calculated that the cost of one meal is about 2.9 bam ($1.6) in the current month of Ramadan, and in 2023 the cost of the same meal will reach 2.7 billion marks ($1.5), i.e. an increase of 7%.
The high cost of potatoes, sugar and butter was a major reason why the cost of Bosnian breakfast would rise in 2024.
Egypt
Egypt is a country full of ancient traditions and culinary heritage, as Egyptians are keen to serve traditional dishes at the breakfast table, which includes a local dish of grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice and spices.
Chopped molokhiya prepared with garlic and coriander is a traditional and frequent choice on the Ramadan table.
Kunafa dessert with mango (Al Jazeera)
As for sweets, Kunafa is a major guest in Ramadan, and is served in different forms mixed with fresh fruits or nuts and cream. To quench thirst, Qamar al-Din - a traditional apricot drink - is considered a favorite among many.
Chopped molokhiya is the lady of the Ramadan table (Al Jazeera)
Egypt is currently witnessing record levels of inflation and currency devaluation, which means that the prices of many ingredients - most notably ghee and sugar - are nearly three times more expensive than they were last Ramadan.
Al Jazeera calculated that one meal during Ramadan this year will cost approximately 68 Egyptian pounds ($1.4), and in 2023 the cost of the same meal will reach 39 Egyptian pounds ($0.8), an increase of 74%.
India
India has a large variety of breakfast meals to choose from, and one of the favorite dishes is gugni, which is a vegetarian recipe consisting of peas or chickpeas and cooked with onions, tomatoes and various spices.
As for side dishes, there is pakora, which is a fried vegetable patty made of onions and green peppers.
As for desserts, the most popular is the soji dessert, which is semolina pudding cooked with ghee and sugar and covered with nuts.
Added to this table is a refreshing rose drink made from rose syrup and water, and often a sprinkle of lemon or mint.
By combining these components, the cost of preparing this meal for one person in the month of Ramadan is about 149 rupees ($1.8), and the cost of the same meal last year was 162 rupees ($1.9), a decrease of 9%.
The main reason for this was the decrease in the price of onions, on which these dishes depend, while the prices of all other ingredients increased or remained the same.
India is the world's largest exporter of onions, and in December the country imposed a ban on all onion exports to increase their availability locally and reduce prices, which have fallen by more than half since the ban came into effect.
On March 23, the ban - which was scheduled to end on the 31st of the same month - was extended indefinitely.
Indonesia
In the largest Islamic country in the world - which includes 6,000 inhabited islands - bubur is one of the most famous local traditional dishes in Indonesia, which is traditional rice porridge topped with shredded chicken, peanuts, vegetables and an array of spices.
A favorite side dish is bakwan, which is a crispy vegetable pancake containing a variety of vegetables, such as grated carrots, cabbage, and bean sprouts.
As for dessert dishes, kulak pisang is a main guest on the Ramadan table. It is a sweet dessert made from bananas cooked in coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaves.
To complete this delicious meal, it is served with a refreshing watermelon drink and a coconut drink.
To prepare the meal, Al Jazeera calculated that the cost of one meal this year is about 66,600 rupees ($4.2), and the cost last year was 62,600 rupees ($3.9), that is, about 6% less.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country, and dishes inspired by Beef Rendang are the most popular in Malaysian cuisine, a rich, spicy beef dish based on coconut milk.
As a side dish, Malaysians often enjoy sayur lodah, an aromatic vegetarian stew made from coconut milk with eggplant, beans and nuts.
To complement the rich flavors, many Malaysians drink a cup of bandung, which is milk with sweet rose syrup added.
Furthermore, a popular dessert is Siri Mocha, which is two layers of rice and pandan custard.
By combining all the necessary ingredients, Al Jazeera calculated that preparing a meal for one person from the previous group would cost about 6.9 ringgit ($1.5) in 2024, and in 2023 the same meal would cost about 6.4 ringgit ($1.3), an increase of 7%.
For breakfast in Malaysia, the biggest price increases over the past year were in fresh food items, including eggs and coconut milk.
Nigeria
Nigerian cuisine is known for its diverse ingredients and vibrant spices, and for a main course Nigerians, like many in West Africa, often enjoy jollof rice, an aromatic red rice served with chicken.
To enhance the flavours, enjoy moi moi, a delicious pudding made from black-eyed peas or kidney beans.
For dessert, the most popular choice is fresh fruit salad.
Furthermore, a Nigerian breakfast is best served with zobo, a popular drink made from dried hibiscus flowers.
The most populous country in Africa has witnessed a worsening of the inflation rate, which has led to a significant increase in the prices of poultry and other fresh food items.
Al Jazeera calculated that in 2024, preparing a portion of this meal will cost about 6,500 naira ($4.4), compared to 3,860 naira ($2.6) in the previous year, an increase of about 68%.
Pakistan
As iftar time approaches in Pakistan, the air becomes filled with anticipation and warmth starting with dahi parai, lentil fritters topped with yoghurt and topped with sweet and spicy chutneys.
Dahi parai is a dish of lentil fritters dipped in yoghurt and topped with sweet and spicy sauces (pixels).
As a side dish, serve "fruit chaat", a sweet and salty fruit salad.
For dessert, jalebi (the famous street food made from flour, sugar and syrup) is the most popular meal at the breakfast table, and the delicious meal ends with a rose-flavored drink.
By calculating the total cost of the components of that meal, Al Jazeera calculated the per capita share at 172 rupees ($0.6), and in 2023 the cost of the same meal reached 141 rupees ($0.5), i.e. an increase of 18%.
Inflation levels in Pakistan remained high, with food inflation reaching a record high of 48.65% in May 2023, and looking at our ingredients list we found that the biggest price increases were seen in vegetables, sugar and ghee.
Palestine
One of the most widely eaten dishes throughout Palestine and the Levant region is maqluba, which consists of layers of sliced eggplant, rice, meat, and other vegetables cooked together in a pot, then turned upside down in a serving dish before eating.
Maqlouba is complemented by dukkah, a traditional spicy tomato and cucumber salad drizzled with olive oil.
As for dessert, one of the great Ramadan options is Qatayef, which is a type of semicircular pie often stuffed with walnuts or cheese and then dipped in syrup.
As for tamarind, it is the most popular drink in Ramadan, and it is made from tamarind and sugar.
Maqluba is the most famous Palestinian traditional dish that is always present on the Ramadan table (Al Jazeera)
Taking the total cost of groceries, Al Jazeera calculated the cost of preparing a portion of this breakfast meal in the occupied West Bank during the month of Ramadan at approximately 31.5 shekels ($9), and the cost of the same meal would reach 28.5 shekels ($8) in 2023, an increase of 11%.
The price of olive oil witnessed the largest increase in prices, nearly doubling from 30 shekels ($8.2) per liter in 2023 to 55 shekels ($15) this year, and meat prices also witnessed a 10% rise.
Celebrating the month of Ramadan in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression was a great challenge for many Palestinians. Preparing a meal is a luxury that many cannot afford, as the price of one egg now amounts to 6 shekels ($1.64).
Despite this, families try to keep their traditions alive by preparing whatever meals they can.
South Africa
For the main course, South Africans can enjoy a classic combination of pap-en-fleece, also known as shisa nyama, which is polenta eaten with grilled meat.
This meal is accompanied by chakalaka, a spicy vegetarian relish made from onions, tomatoes, carrots, beans and spices.
As for the most famous dessert dishes, they offer Cook Sisters dessert, which is a crispy fried dough braided and dipped in syrup.
Like many countries, South Africa faces high inflation rates, and Al Jazeera calculated that preparing a portion of the above breakfast meal costs about 77 rand ($4.0), and in 2023, the cost of the same meal reached 68 rand ($3.6), an increase of 13. % almost.
The largest price increases came from the cost of store-bought chaklaka and pantry items such as cake flour and sugar.
Türkiye
As the sun sets in Turkey, many families eat delicious dolma (stuffed) dishes, which are vegetables stuffed with a mixture of rice, meat and herbs.
The side dish of cacique salad is added to the main meal, which consists of creamy yogurt and cucumber sauce.
A side dish of cacique salad is added to the main meal, which consists of creamy yogurt and cucumber sauce (Bixabe).
As for dessert, one of the many options might be a bowl of mohallabiya, a milk pudding flavored with cinnamon and nuts.
To support the digestive process, “salaj” - a fermented turnip drink - is a good choice after heavy meals.
Turkey has also witnessed a rise in inflation levels. When preparing the breakfast table, Al Jazeera calculated that the cost of a person’s meal amounts to about 60.5 liras ($1.9) compared to about 50.6 liras ($1.6) a year ago, i.e. an increase of about 20%.
Among the biggest price increases were dairy products, including milk and yogurt.
United kingdom
There are approximately 4 million Muslims in the UK, and like many other countries with a non-Muslim majority the choice of breakfast meals depends largely on the ethnic background of the family, and a hearty British seafood breakfast can consist of a slice of salmon fillet served with a side dish of vegetables. And a bowl of rice.
After the main course, a bowl of fruit yogurt is served, and the meal can end with a hot cup of green tea, which is full of antioxidants and helps digestion.
As for breakfast this year, Al Jazeera calculated that the cost of one meal of the above-mentioned meal amounts to about 2.2 pounds ($2.7), and this is a marginal increase of about 4% over the previous year, which amounted to 2.1 pounds ($2.6).
In 2022, the UK saw 7 months of double-digit inflation, which peaked at 11.1% in October, and the rate has since stabilized at around 4% during the first few months of 2024.
United State
The United States has a diverse Muslim community of about 3 to 4 million people, or about 1% of the population, and one of the popular main dishes enjoyed by many American families is the classic oven-roasted chicken flavored with herbs and spices.
The classic oven-roasted chicken flavored with herbs and spices is the most popular on the American table (Pixels)
Served with a barbecue meal, a traditional Middle Eastern green salad topped with crispy pieces of toasted bread (fattoush).
Kunafa is the dessert that brings together many Muslim peoples migrating from the Middle East, and is served with tea, coffee, or flavored milk.
To prepare this year’s meal, Al Jazeera estimates its costs at approximately $7.1 during the current month of Ramadan. Last year, the cost of the same meal amounted to approximately $6.7, an increase of about 5%.
In most cases, the prices of the ingredients needed to prepare this meal remained constant, with a slight increase in the prices of poultry and dairy.
Source: Al Jazeera