Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Quick and easy new ideas

by Nadeem Ahmed

Sehri Smoothie Sailing


Ramadan seems come quicker every year and each time we say we will be more prepared than the last time, but that is not always the case. If you have left it late this year, don’t worry – I have some great tips for saving time and eating healthily. One great addition I would recommend to your Sehri meal first thing in the morning is my own little invention – the Too Fast Too Furious smoothie. Not only does this contain some of your five a day, but the slow-release energy from the protein will keep you going the day. The divine tasting delicacy takes less than five minutes to make.

The Too Fast Too Furious Smoothie contains a handful each of spinach, kale, a variety of berries, fresh pomegranate seeds and one whole banana; two cups of soya or almond milk; a few walnuts; a bunch of fresh mint; 1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds, and a hint of cinnamon powder. Put all the ingredients in a blender for a couple of minutes and voila, you have your Too Fast Too Furious smoothie, which will keep you energised until Iftari.

IFTARI idea

During the day, we all have fantasies about what to eat at Iftari time, but when it comes to opening our fast, we get full so quickly that we can’t even eat a quarter of what we dreamed about. Why not try new recipes and ideas this Ramadan? With that in mind here are easy recipes I would recommend, which will tickle your taste buds.

Tabouleh salad with red hot chicken/red hot paneer

Ingredients for Tabouleh

1 cup wheat bulgur (dry), makes 2 cups after combining with liquid

1/2 medium onion, minced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

3 cups minced fresh parsley

1 medium tomato, chopped

3 tblsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tblsp fresh lemon juice or vinegar

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Put the ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Keep aside while you make the chicken or paneer.

red hot chicken/ red hot paneer:

Ingredients

2 cubed chicken breasts/ 200 gms paneer

4 heaped tablespoons of paprika powder

1 tsp red chilli powder (or to taste)

1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 tsp garlic pulp

1/2 freshly squeezed lemon

Water n Olive oil

Method:

Mix the paprika, chilli pow- der, salt, pepper, garlic, lemon and some water in a bowl un- til it is a paste consistency. This is your marinade for the chicken or paneer.

Combine the chicken or paneer with the marinade, making sure all the pieces are covered. Keep in the fridge overnight if possible.

When making the chicken/ paneer, all you have to do is put a bit of oil in the wok and fry the chicken or paneer pieces until they are cooked. Then place in a tray and cook in the oven on a medium heat for 15 minutes and that’s it.

Serve the tabouleh salad on the plate and put the chicken or paneer pieces on the salad. Dollop some Greek yoghurt on the side and serve.

dessert delight

Fruit & nut case: A simple, yet delicious desert that will satisfy your sweet cravings. (Roughly serves three) Ingredients

1 full cup of frozen berries

4 tblsp ricotta cheese

Toasted nuts to garnish n Some desiccated coconut to garnish

Fresh mint sprigs

Method

Heat the berries for about 1-2 minutes in the microwave and spoon into dessert glass- es. Add the ricotta cheese and garnish with toasted almonds and coconut, and add a sprig of mint to give that designer look. A light gorgeous dessert at only 150 calories per serv- ing. It’s a win-win situation.

More For You

southend london plane crash

A plume of black smoke rises from an area near the runway after a small plane crash, as seen from inside a building at London Southend Airport on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

Southend Airport closed after plane crash

LONDON Southend Airport in Essex has been closed until further notice after a small plane crashed at the airport on England’s south-east coast on Sunday, according to police.

In a post on X, London Southend Airport said all flights to and from the airport have been cancelled while emergency services, police, and air accident investigators are at the scene.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rachel Reeves

'This fund will give hundreds of thousands of children, young people and their families a better chance,' Reeves said in a statement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Government launches £500 million fund for vulnerable children

THE UK government on Sunday launched a £500 million Better Futures Fund aimed at supporting up to 200,000 vulnerable children over the next 10 years.

According to the government, the fund will focus on helping struggling families by improving children's access to education and ensuring a safe home environment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)
Getty Images

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less