Waking up for sahur is a regular part of our routine during Ramadan. And we’re always on the lookout for easy sahur meals, especially those that can be prepared quickly so we don’t have to wake up super early in the morning!
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We all know dates (or kurma) are a great sahur food item. These energy-dense fruits are rich in fibre and deliciously sweet. It’s also sunnah to eat dates for sahur ? But a close alternative that’s become increasingly popular is kurma milk! This combination of milk and dates makes for a perfect sahur beverage that’s nourishing and filling. And apart from drinking it on its own (which is already delicious!), there are actually several quick and easy sahur recipes you can make with kurma milk too, which we’ve rounded up for you!
P.S. Get MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma to make these recipes! Made with only fresh milk and real dates, it has no added sweeteners or additives and is 100% natural ? You can find it on e-retailers and supermarkets (including FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant and Sheng Shiong), minimarkets & selected provision stores.
Note: You can also make all these recipes using MAGNOLIA 100% Fresh Milk if you prefer plain milk ?
1. Banana, almond and kurma smoothie
Smoothies are a fantastically easy sahur meal as they’re quick and effortless (your blender does all the work)! And if you’re looking for a smoothie recipe that’s yummy and filling, look no further than this banana, almond and kurma smoothie. Thanks to the banana as well as the MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma that’s super creamy, you get a nice, thick delicious smoothie ?
To make this smoothie, simply blend together ice-cubes, 1 frozen banana, a ¼ cup of almonds and 1 cup of MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma with a pinch of cinnamon. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
#HHWT Tip: You can add some rolled oats for added fibre too!
2. Dates and kurma milk
If you’ve woken up for sahur late and are really pinched for time (we’ve all been there ?), there’s no quicker sahur to reach for than some dates and a cup of milk! Not only is it sunnah to eat dates for sahur, but it makes for a nutritious meal - and it’s even more delicious when you have it with MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma. The light caramel sweetness of the milk really complements the dates. Grab some raw nuts like almonds or walnuts for some healthy fats too!
3. Yoghurt bowls
Have a protein-packed yoghurt bowl that’s as delicious as it is easy to prepare! Opt for plain Greek yoghurt (which is higher in protein than regular yoghurt) and add someMAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma for natural sweetness. Mixing in the kurma milk will also help loosen the consistency of the Greek yoghurt (which tends to be thicker than regular yoghurt) to a nicer creamier texture.
In a bowl, simply add your Greek yoghurt, then mix in MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma until it reaches your desired consistency. Top your yoghurt with fresh fruits, a handful of nuts, or any other toppings you desire.
#HHWT Tip: Add chia or flax seeds for a boost in healthy Omega-3 fats!
4. Overnight oats with bananas and kurma milk
Overnight oats require little effort to put together. You make them the night before, leave them in the fridge overnight and in the morning just pull them out of the fridge, add your favourite toppings and enjoy! There are a variety of ways to flavour your overnight oats, but this surefire combination of bananas and MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma will hit the spot.
To make one serving of this overnight oats, mash ½ a banana and add it to a container with a lid. Add ⅓ cup of oats, ⅓ cup of MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. Mix until well-combined, then cover with the lid and place in the fridge overnight. At sahur time take your overnight oats and top with fresh fruit, nuts, peanut butter and any other toppings you like.
#HHWT Tip: If you prefer warm oatmeal, you can heat your oats in the microwave before adding your toppings! If it gets too thick, pour a splash more MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma before adding toppings.
5. Acai bowls
Acai bowls have become a popular healthy cold treat that’s pleasantly filling and a great vehicle for all your favourite breakfast toppings! Made with acai berries which are the fruit of acai palm trees, it’s packed with antioxidants! The base ingredients for acai bowls are usually frozen acai puree which is then blended with milk and other ingredients. For this recipe, use MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma to add natural sweetness (rather than using sugar or other sweeteners) to your acai bowl while also making it nice and thick - the perfect consistency for eating with a spoon!
#HHWT Tip: You can find frozen acai sold by e-retailers and in select supermarkets.
To make the acai bowl, add 1 pack (100g) of frozen Acai puree to your blender, along with 1 frozen medium banana snd ½ cup MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma. Blend until smooth. If you desire a runnier consistency for your bowl, you can add more kurma milk and blend further. Pour your acai mixture into a bowl and have fun adding your favourite toppings! Popular ones include sliced fresh fruit, nuts, chia or flax seeds, cacao nibs, rolled oats and granola.
6. Chia seed pudding
Chia seeds are known to be a highly nutritional food packed with fibre, healthy fats, calcium, protein and more! And if you have chia seeds on-hand to make overnight oats, you should definitely try making chia seed pudding for sahur too. Made with chia seeds that are soaked overnight, you end up with a thick creamy pudding that will keep you energised and satiated.
For one serving, mix 2 tablespoons of chia seeds in a jar or container with ½ cup of MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma and a teaspoon of vanilla essence. Mix very well so all the chia seeds are incorporated in the milk, with no clumps. Leave the mixture for a few minutes, then mix well again before covering and keeping in the fridge overnight. In the morning, take out your pudding and add your favourite toppings before digging in.
#HHWT Tip: Add 1 tablespoon of sifted cocoa powder and ½ tablespoon of maple syrup to the recipe to make chocolate chia seed pudding instead!
Bonus recipe: Kurma milk wholemeal banana pancakes
This recipe isn’t exactly quick, but it’s definitely easy! If you’re not up for flipping pancakes early in the morning, make these ahead of time, store in a container in the fridge and reheat them for sahur. It’s a great way to use up overripe bananas too ?
Ingredients (makes about 8 - 9 pancakes):
- 1 ⅓ cups wholemeal flour (if you don’t have this, all-purpose flour works too!)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 large ripe banana
- 1 egg
- 1 cup MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma
- ¼ cup Greek yoghurt (or regular yoghurt works well too)
- 1 tsp vanilla essence or alcohol-free pure vanilla
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine the wholemeal flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon and salt. Mix to combine.
- In a separate smaller bowl, mash the banana. Add the egg, MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma, Greek yoghurt, and vanilla. Whisk everything to combine.
- Make a well in the larger bowl with the dry ingredients. Pour in the wet mixture, then stir gently just until everything is combined and there are no dry clumps left. Don’t over-stir, as you’ll end up with hard pancakes!
- Heat a pan over medium heat, melt some butter or use non-stick cooking spray to coat the pan.
- Add in ¼ cup of the batter to the pan. Let it cook until bubbles start forming on the surface and the edges of the pancake look dry. Flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Repeat with the rest of the batter.
- Serve with maple syrup or any other toppings you prefer. If not serving straight away, let the pancakes cool completely then store in a container in the fridge. In the morning for sahur, put your pancakes on a plate, cover with a paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds.
Having sahur is an important part of our fasting ritual and it’s important that we get a nourishing and filling meal to keep us going throughout the day! Kurma milk makes for an easy option that is not only is delicious on its own (especiallyMAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurmawhich is super creamy and not too sweet!) but can be used in these quick and easy recipes too, so you’ll always have convenient options for sahur.
P.S. You can currently get a 1-litre pack of MAGNOLIAPLUS Fresh Milk with Kurma from now until Sep 2020 for only SGD3.95 (usually SGD4.50) through e-retailers and supermarkets (including FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant and Sheng Shiong), minimarkets & selected provision stores. ?
This article was brought to you by MAGNOLIA Milk.