Halal meals comply with Islamic dietary laws, including the prohibition of pork, carnivorous animals, and alcohol. Traditional halal dishes include lamb and chicken kebabs, Pakistani rice-based dishes, and fried eggplants. Healthy halal meals use leaner cuts of meat, fish, and fresh vegetables. Halal meals can also be non-traditional, such as soups, vegetable fritters, chili, and desserts.
Halal meals are prepared with foods that comply with Islamic dietary laws. These laws include the prohibition of pork, carnivorous animals and alcohol, among other restrictions. While halal meals used to be the exclusive domain of the Islamic world, it is now common to find halal items on menus across the West. Whether ordering halal food from a restaurant or preparing it at home, some halal meals are traditional while others are not; some are healthy and can even be easy to make.
While there is no single definition of what makes a traditional meal halal, some common dishes come from a variety of Islamic countries around the world. With no pork on the menu, lamb and chicken kebabs are a common halal meal, often served with pita bread, vegetables, and different dips or yoghurts. Pakistani halal meals often include lamb, chicken or beef cooked in a creamy gravy, or rice-based dishes with grilled meat and vegetables. Fried eggplants are also common in halal cuisine, often made with onions, spices and yogurt.
Healthy halal meals can be variations on traditional dishes using leaner cuts of meat and healthier ingredients, or completely different dishes. One option is to use fish, which is generally leaner and healthier than meats. Healthy halal meal ideas include baked salmon, tuna scramble and sardine salad or wrap. To make a halal meal healthier, cooks often use wholemeal instead of white flour, reduce salt and refined sugar, and use plenty of fresh vegetables.
Some halal meals can be prepared on the go if the right ingredients are stored in the kitchen or pantry. Stews are an easy way to use a variety of halal ingredients together to make a convenient meal. Beef or chicken can be slow cooked with potatoes, vegetables and spices to create a savory halal stew. Sandwiches and salads with vegetables and sliced chicken breast are another way to prepare halal meals without much effort or time.
Halal food does not have to be limited to traditional foods of Islamic cuisine. All meals that use strictly halal ingredients are considered halal, no matter how Westernized those meals are. Cooks can prepare halal meals that start with soup, such as lentil or carrot soup. Non-traditional main courses may include vegetable fritters, chili, or lasagna. A dessert may follow, such as an apple crisp or pie, chocolate cake, or ice cream.
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