Beat the Ramadan heat

Keeping the month of Ramadan in mind, Star Lifestyle will present for its readers one recipe a day that would be an ideal addition to your iftar/sehri dishes. From the secrets of the Mughal kitchen to the charm of Middle Eastern cuisine; from the culinary tricks of your grandma's magical hands, to the fusion cuisine that is all the rage these days, The Food Spread, hopes to be the golden key to Ramadan gastronomy.

Dates are a staple during Ramadan, but this time, why not give it a culinary twist? Combine them in drinks for a new take on the old date. Here are a few recipes to quench your thirst after the long day of fasting.

Coffee-date frappe

As long as we are still on the subject of dates, take the usual fruits to the next level and try a coffee-date frappe. The coffee is ideal for the instant energy boost, which pairs perfectly with the unique sweetness of the dates. However, along with the coffee does come caffeine.

The recipe is fairly simple. Whizz up a cup of strong, freshly made or stale coffee [although the hot coffee could soften the dates when poured over them], with a second cup of milk and four dates, pitted. Blend until fully smooth and throw in a few ice cubes. Top up three cups and garnish with a handful of nuts, as per your choice and you have paved the way for that round of compliments at the iftar table!

Creamy mango and coconut smoothie

This cooling drink combining mangoes and coconuts makes for a satisfying sip and is ideal to beat the heat this Ramadan.

To round up the ingredients, you will require a half glass coconut milk, put together with four tablespoons of coconut yoghurt, one ripe banana and one whole mango. Blitz these up and you will end up with the best tropical shake.

Although shelves at Meena Bazaar and Agora are stocked with coconut flavoured milk and yoghurt, you may still find it difficult to acquire them; in which case, you can switch them out for the plain versions to end up with a banana-mango smoothie that is just as decadent.

Mango, sugarcane and coconut milk smoothie

Let's go further into the direction of tropical fruits and smoothies. Treat yourself to local produce this summer and throw together a refreshing smoothie. It's simpler than it sounds and is bound to be an iftar favourite.

Throw in the pulp of one ripe mango, one glass of fresh sugarcane juice and coconut milk into a blender and blitz away till smooth. Squeeze in half a lime and add in the ice cubes.

Extra sugar can also be added to indulge your sweet tooth. Also, the smoothie is best drunk fresh as stale sugarcane juice can begin to have a rather bitter taste.