Ramadan Iftar Shopping List

Planning an iftar for a group means buying more than dates and a main dish. You also need enough soup bowls, glasses, serving equipment and hot-holding capacity for the meal after sunset. Use this list alongside your guest count, dietary requirements and confirmed iftar time. Buy shelf-stable items first, then fresh groceries and meat or chicken close to the event so the food is fresh and preparation stays manageable.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 7
Chairsqty 55
Buffet tablesqty 3
Registration desk

Tableware

Dinner platesqty 60
Soup bowlsqty 60
Dessert platesqty 60
Glassesqty 70
Coffee cupsqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 70
Serving spoonsqty 12

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 5
Chef's knifeqty 5
Mixing bowlsqty 6
Serving plattersqty 14
Soup kettlesqty 2
Food warmersqty 5
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 5
Coolersqty 4

Decorations

Table runnersqty 7
Tealight holdersqty 20
LED candlesqty 20
Ramadan lanternsqty 8
Menu standsqty 7

Lighting

String lightsqty 4

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 4

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Medjool dates - 4 kilogram
- Apricots - 1 kilogram
- Chickpeas - 8 cans
- Lentils - 2 kilograms
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Tomato paste - 6 cans
- Onions - 5 kilograms
- Garlic - 6 bulbs
- Carrots - 4 kilograms
- Celery - 2 heads
- Courgettes - 3 kilograms
- Peppers - 3 kilograms
- Eggplants - 2 kilograms
- Cucumbers - 3 kilograms
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Cherry tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Lemons - 3 kilogram
- Fresh coriander - 8 bunches
- Fresh parsley - 6 bunches
- Fresh mint - 6 bunches
- Ginger - 500 grams
- Basmati rice - 6 kilograms
- Chicken thigh fillet - 8 kilograms
- Ground beef - 4 kilograms
- Vegetarian meatballs - 3 kilograms
- Phyllo dough - 8 packs
- Feta - 2 kilograms
- Greek yogurt - 4 kilogram
- Hummus - 3 kilograms
- Tahini - 2 jars
- Pita bread - 60 pieces
- Turkish bread - 10 loaves
- Olive oil - 3 liters
- Sunflower oil - 3 liters
- Butter - 1 kilogram
- Salt - 1 kilogram
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Cumin - 250 grams
- Turmeric - 250 gram
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Cinnamon - 100 gram
- Cardamom - 100 gram
- Ras el hanout - 250 grams
- Chili powder - 100 gram
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Honey - 2 jars
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Oranges - 5 kilogram
- Apples - 4 kilograms
- Bananas - 3 kilograms
- Baklava - 4 kilograms
- Vanilla pudding - 4 liters
- Whipped cream - 2 liters
- Coffee - 1 kilogram
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Peppermint tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Water - 60 liters
- Sparkling water - 20 liters
- Cola - 12 liters
- Cola Zero - 12 liters
- Orange juice - 10 liters
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Rose water - 2 bottles
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Storage containers - 30 pieces
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 4 bottles

Prayer supplies

Prayer matsqty 12
Shoe racksqty 2

Waste

Waste binsqty 4

Tips

Plan two to three dates and at least 500 ml of water or other drinks per guest for breaking the fast. Add extra drinks for the meal and keep them cold in coolers.
For a buffet, prepare one dinner plate, soup bowl, dessert plate, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra. For 50 guests, that means 55 of each item.
Buy fresh vegetables one day before the iftar and collect meat or chicken on the same day whenever possible. This leaves time for washing vegetables, marinating and preparing the dishes.
Allow one serving spoon for each buffet dish and at least two cutting boards and one chef’s knife for food preparation. Keep serving equipment separate from preparation tools.
Check hot food capacity before shopping for large quantities. Soup kettles and food warmers should cover the planned soup, rice and side dishes, while coffee machines, kettles and thermos flasks cover drinks after the meal.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy for an iftar for 20 people?: Buy at least 22 portions of each planned dish, plus 22 plates, soup bowls, dessert plates, glasses and cutlery sets to allow 10% extra. Plan 40 to 60 dates and at least 10 litres of water or other drinks for breaking the fast.
How much food do I need for an iftar buffet?: For each guest, plan one bowl of soup, one main-dish portion, a serving of rice or side dishes, salad and one dessert. Prepare 10% extra, so a group of 50 needs roughly 55 portions of each item rather than exactly 50.
When should I do the Ramadan iftar shopping?: Buy non-perishable items and disposable supplies several days ahead. Buy vegetables the day before, and collect fresh meat or chicken on the event day or no more than one day before, depending on storage.
How many plates and glasses do I need for an iftar?: Use one dinner plate, soup bowl, dessert plate and glass per guest, then add 10% extra. For 30 guests, prepare at least 33 of each, plus serving platters, serving spoons and spare cutlery.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

Organize for free and invite your contacts!