Turkish comfort food classics to turn any iftar dinner into warm gathering

Some iftar (fast-breaking dinner) menus aim to impress. Others simply try to comfort.

This one falls into the second group—built from well-loved dishes that stretch across many Turkish tables, with no frills or difficult steps.

The meal begins with a bowl of ezogelin soup, slightly tangy and filled with lentils and rice. Haydari comes next, a quick appetizer of thick yogurt and garlic meant for dipping warm bread.

The main dish, baked chicken thighs, cooks itself in the oven while you rest, and cauliflower fritters offer a crispy side finished with garlic yogurt. For dessert, a golden slice of syrup-soaked revani adds sweetness without weighing down the meal.

Begin iftar with a bowl of ezogelin soup for filling and comforting start to iftar

This soup is built around red lentils, rice and bulgur. It simmers with tomato paste, mint and lemon for a bit of tang and body. Easy to make and hard to mess up for an iftar meal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 tablespoon rice
• 1 tablespoon fine bulgur
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon dried mint
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 6 cups water
• Salt and pepper
• Juice of half a lemon

Instructions

1. Rinse lentils, rice and bulgur. Set aside.
2. Saute onion in butter until soft. Add tomato paste and cook briefly.
3. Add lentils, rice, bulgur, and water. Simmer until soft, about 30 minutes.
4. Season with salt, pepper, mint, red pepper flakes and lemon juice. Serve warm.

Serve haydari with warm bread for a quick yogurt and garlic appetizer

Thick, cold, and sharp, haydari cuts through warm dishes and pairs well with anything grilled or fried, making it perfect for this iftar meal. It comes together in five minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 cup strained yogurt
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon dried mint
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt

Instructions

1. Mix yogurt with garlic, mint, and salt.
2. Drizzle with olive oil before serving.

Let the oven do the work with baked chicken thighs for main course

This is a one-tray dinner and an easy iftar recipe. Chicken thighs stay juicy while the vegetables roast underneath, soaking up the fat and flavor.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 potatoes, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Mix tomato paste, oil, paprika, salt, and pepper with water to make a sauce.
2. Place the vegetables in a baking dish. Lay chicken on top.
3. Pour sauce over everything.
4. Cover with foil and bake at 200 C (390 F) for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more.

Fry cauliflower until golden and serve with garlic yogurt as a savory side to iftar meal

Cauliflower florets are battered and fried until crisp, then served with garlic yogurt. A crunchy, creamy favorite that always disappears fast.

Ingredients

• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 egg
• 1 cup flour
• Salt and pepper
• Oil for frying
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 garlic clove, minced

Instructions

1. Boil cauliflower for 5 minutes. Drain and cool.
2. Whisk egg, flour, salt, and pepper into a thick batter.
3. Dip cauliflower into batter and fry until golden.
4. Mix yogurt and garlic. Serve as a dip or on the side.

End iftar meal with slice of revani for light semolina dessert soaked in syrup

Revani is soft and sweet, but not overly rich. The semolina gives it a pleasant bite, and the syrup keeps it moist for days, so you can enjoy it after the end of Ramadan as well.

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 cup semolina
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 packet baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the syrup:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Juice of half a lemon

Instructions

1. Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy. Add yogurt, oil, semolina, flour, baking powder, and vanilla. Mix well.
2. Pour into a greased tray. Bake at 180 C (350 F) for 30–35 minutes.
3. Boil syrup ingredients for 10 minutes. Cool.
4. Pour cold syrup over hot cake. Let rest before slicing.

Each dish in this lineup brings warmth, ease, and flavor. Whether you’re breaking your fast alone or with others, these are recipes that work well on busy nights.

You don’t need specialty tools or ingredients—just time, patience, and a little rhythm in the kitchen. From hot soup to sticky cake, you’ll want to make these iftar recipes again tomorrow.