Kalimati

In my family, these fluffy, chewy East African doughnuts are an exclusive Ramadan treat and the highlight of so many iftars. They’re truly unlike any other doughnut I’ve tried. The minimally mixed yeasted dough contains yogurt for an extra-tender final product, and there’s no rolling or punching required. Instead, scoop the dough straight into hot oil and watch it puff and turn golden. To top it off, these little delights get tossed in perfumed simple syrup—I love the sweet, earthy notes of cardamom, but you can easily swap it for saffron or your favorite aromatic spice. Finishing with flaky sea salt is not traditional, but I find it perfectly balances all the sweet notes. —Zaynab Issa

For an iftar-worthy spread, pair this recipe with Afghan Pasta, Saffron Milk Cake, and Mango-Lime Spritzer, and read about how Zaynab hosts iftar here.