Spice things up at Iftar with these tasty dips

No matter what the culinary style your Ramadan dinner is planned to take, dips are a great way to offer healthy, light appetisers before the main event.

Alternatively, served with the right veggies, crisps, or bite-sized goodies, a few good dips can also make for a veritable feast.

Middle Eastern cuisines are known for meat dishes, meaning a variety of vegetable dips are usually a welcome way to kick things off come sunset.

Mix things up and try these three tasty options this Holy Month.

Muhammara

A spicy walnut and red pepper pâté, seasoned with cumin, extra red pepper pieces (sometimes) and pomegranate molasses.

This Levantine staple is perfect served with just-baked flatbread or toasted ciabatta bread strips.

It tastes smoky, roasted, tangy, savoury, and a little bitter, all at the same time.

Baba ghanoush

Also known as baba ghanouj or just simply, grilled eggplant dip, it's enriched with tahini and flavoured with lemon and garlic.

A favourite around the world, for a reddish spread with a touch of sweetness, it can be fun to add pureed, grilled sweet red peppers.

For delicate flavour, try substituting Greek yoghurt for the tahini.

Hummus

It's the most familiar of all dips.

Made with protein-packed chickpeas and tahini, this dip is probably the fastest of all to prepare, especially if you use canned chickpeas.

Middle Eastern cooks often drizzle olive oil in the centre and garnish it with chopped parsley and ground red pepper.