Ramadan Mubarak, friends! Today I'm sharing a special experience from the first day of Ramadan 2025 - being invited to a local Moroccan family's home for iftar. This warm welcome into their traditions made for an unforgettable evening that I'm excited to share with you all.
The Excitement of an Iftar Invitation
Saturday night before Ramadan began, I received an unexpected invitation that made me smile. Jack's friend's family, who live just a few floors up in our building, invited us to join them for iftar on the first day of Ramadan. For those unfamiliar, iftar is the meal eaten at sunset during Ramadan to break the day's fast.
I was thrilled! Not only would this be our first iftar of 2025, but experiencing Ramadan with a local Moroccan family offers insights into traditions you simply can't get any other way. Even better - they kindly allowed me to film a bit of the experience to share with you all.
Preparing for Iftar: The Gift Dilemma
Anyone who's lived abroad knows the small cultural puzzles that pop up regularly. One such puzzle: what do you bring to your first iftar invitation?
I initially thought about bringing shebakia (the sweet, sesame cookie so popular during Ramadan), but it felt a bit predictable. After asking around, many suggested bringing juices - an important part of breaking the fast after a day without liquids.
I headed out and picked up several two-liter bottles - multi-fruit, apple-mango (pomme et mangue), and others. These large juice bottles surprised me a bit - I was used to seeing one-liter cartons, but these were massive!
Still, I found myself wondering if juice alone was enough. You know that feeling when you're invited somewhere and just can't show up empty-handed? That was me.
The Cooking Decision
By Sunday morning - the first day of Ramadan - I decided juice alone wouldn't suffice. Despite the family insisting I didn't need to bring anything, it's just not in my nature to arrive without a proper contribution.
I'll admit something to you all - I get surprisingly anxious when sharing my cooking with people I don't know well. Do you ever feel that way? Even though I know I cook well, there's that little voice of doubt when preparing food for others, especially for such an important meal.
After some deliberation, I decided to make one of my specialties: chicken sausage with peppers and onions. It's a dish I love, reminiscent of what you'd find at flea markets in New Jersey, especially Columbus Market with their famous sausage-pepper-onion stands.
A Ramadan Shopping Adventure
While Jack went for his much-needed haircut (you regular readers have been commenting on that for weeks!), I headed to Rabat on a mission. First stop: LaFonda for quality chicken sausage.
The store was bustling - Ramadan shopping was in full swing with everyone preparing for iftar despite not being able to eat until sunset. I got a ticket for the meat section (something I'd never seen them use before) and waited my turn. The chicken sausage cost 142 dirhams per kilo (about $7 per pound), but it's so flavorful that it's worth every dirham.
Next came the bread hunt. During last Ramadan, I remembered seeing plenty of mini sandwich rolls perfect for iftar, but this year proved more challenging. I visited five different bakeries before finding something workable - not exactly what I wanted, a bit thinner than ideal, but I decided to make it work.
I also tried finding provolone cheese at two different stores without success. I settled for mozzarella instead, though it's not my favorite for this particular sandwich.
Cooking for Iftar
Back in my kitchen, I gathered all my ingredients: the smoked chicken sausage from LaFonda, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and the mozzarella cheese.
Camryn, who had just returned from a weekend in Casablanca with friends, suggested adding chips to the sandwiches. I politely declined - chips aren't what I consider traditional iftar food, and I was already bringing sandwiches and juice.
The cooking process was straightforward but delicious:
- Brown the sausage until it's nicely colored
- Sauté the onions and peppers
- Add tomato and seasoning to keep everything moist
- Combine everything
- Assemble on the small, hand-sized bread
- Add mozzarella and toast in the oven
The aroma of the sausage frying filled the kitchen, making our pre-fast stomachs growl in anticipation. The finished sandwiches looked fantastic - I had already wrapped them but unwrapped one to show you how good they looked.
Getting Ready for the Gathering
As sunset approached, we prepared for our visit. Camryn wore her purple jellaba, a traditional Moroccan garment, while I opted for a red one. Jack wore something different entirely. We gathered the food and drinks, and the kids helped carry everything up a few flights of stairs to our hosts' apartment.
Our First Iftar of 2025
We arrived at Jack's friend Zyad's family home on the third floor. Zyad is 13 years old and, coincidentally, attends a school also named Zyad. Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the beautiful spread of food already prepared.
The iftar table featured salad, what looked like sweet briwats (pastries), olives, dates, amlou (a delicious almond, honey, and argan oil spread), and figs. I realized I hadn't seen fresh figs often since moving to Morocco - in America, my primary exposure to figs was through Fig Newtons cookies!
Jack was particularly excited about the harira soup, a Ramadan staple he absolutely loves. Our hosts continued bringing out more food, including chicken that was still cooking when we arrived.
Cultural Exchange During Iftar
As we broke the fast together, conversation flowed naturally. The parents and Zyad discussed schooling in Morocco, explaining that in his private school, discipline can sometimes involve corporal punishment for speaking out of turn or minor infractions, especially for children over 10. Zyad mentioned that this has happened less frequently this year, which is "mesan" (good).
This offered an interesting glimpse into educational differences - something I'm always fascinated to learn about in my adopted country.
The Verdict From the Kids
Both Jack and Camryn were thoroughly enjoying themselves. When asked about his first iftar of 2025, Jack rated it a perfect 10 out of 10. His favorites were the fried chicken, sausages, and harira soup.
Camryn, who had spilled something on her jellaba, was equally enthusiastic. The mother kindly suggested using "sabun beldi" (traditional Moroccan soap) to remove the stain. Camryn declared the family "the nicest ever" and particularly enjoyed the salad and chicken.
Moroccan Hospitality Knows No Bounds
When it was time to head home, we experienced that famous Moroccan hospitality in full force. Our hosts insisted on sending us home with containers full of leftovers - salad for Camryn, a whole container of harira soup, and many other dishes.
Back at home, tired but content, Jack reflected that he should have eaten more, comparing it to couscous day where "it is on you" to eat as much as possible. Meanwhile, Camryn shared her suhoor experience - waking at 4 AM, being unable to eat much, falling back asleep, and waking again at 10 AM.
Reflections on My First Ramadan Iftar of 2025
This experience encapsulates what I love most about living in Morocco - the genuine warmth and hospitality shown to newcomers. Being welcomed into a family's home for such an important religious and cultural occasion is a privilege I don't take lightly.
The beautifully prepared food, the conversations that flowed naturally despite language differences, and the generosity in sending us home with so many leftovers - these elements combine to create the authentic Moroccan experience that continues to bewilder and delight me daily.
Ramadan is a special time in Morocco. The streets transform, daily rhythms change, and there's a unique sense of community and shared purpose. Being invited to participate in these traditions gives me a deeper understanding of this country I've come to love.
Have You Experienced Ramadan in Morocco?
Have you ever attended an iftar in Morocco or another Muslim country? What foods or traditions stood out to you? If Ramadan is part of your own traditions, what makes this month special for you and your family?
Or if you're planning to visit Morocco during Ramadan in the future, what aspects are you most curious about? Let me know in the comments below!
For more insights into Moroccan food traditions, check out my guide to [Traditional Moroccan Breakfast Foods] or [Navigating Moroccan Street Food Like a Local].
Ramadan Mubarak to all who are observing this holy month!