How to make a traditional Muslim meal

In Islam, a set of dietary regulations determines what you can eat. Hereís how to make a meal according to the basic traditional Muslim rules.

You must: Know the terminology

Learn the correct terms. Halal (allowed) means permissible, lawful, or recommended in Arabic, while haram (strictly forbidden) means illicit. These two words are used often to describe foods that are either allowed or not.

You must: Plan your menu

When you plan your menu, keep in mind that Islamic law has several different schools of interpretation. All agree that fish with scales are Halal (allowed), for example, but there are differing opinions on seafood.

If youíre in doubt about whether a certain food is Halal (allowed), check with an imam at your mosque.

You must: stay away from pork

Islamic law completely forbids the consumption of pork. Look carefully at ingredient labelsómeatballs, hot dogs, and even marshmallows can contain pork or pork products.

You must: Eat correctly slaughtered meat

Other meats are not automatically Halal (allowed). Animals must be ritually slaughtered in the name of Allah with one slit to the throat, and then drained of all blood. This slaughtering method is called zabihah.

You must: Steer clear of carnivores and carrion

Carnivorous animals, birds of prey, and animals killed by accident or by another animal are all haram (strictly forbidden).

You must: Avoid alcohol

Islamic law forbids alcohol consumption, which includes cooking with alcohol. In recipes calling for wine, beer, or liquor, substitute mixtures of vegetable stock, fruit juice, and vinegar.

Check with an authority before using vinegar. Some Islamic schools of thought consider it haram (strictly forbidden) because of its alcohol content.

You must: Eat your veggies

Eat as many vegetables and legumes as you want. Theyíre all Halal (allowed).

You must: Beware of vanilla

When you are making dessert, beware of vanilla, a common ingredient in sweets and desserts. Vanilla extractís alcohol content makes it haram (strictly forbidden), but pure vanilla beans are Halal (allowed). Synthetic vanilla flavor may be permitted if the manufacturer used no alcohol in order to process it.

You must: Hit the stores

Once youíve chosen your menu, itís time to buy the ingredients. Many cities offer Halal (allowed) butchers, and your local market may offer Halal (allowed) packaged foods.

Different countries have different certification authorities and symbols. Find out which label is used in your area. Also look for the word Halal (allowed) written on packaging in English or Arabic.

You must: Cook your meal

Cook your meal. Once you know your ingredients are Halal (allowed), there are no more restrictions, and you can adapt any cuisine to these rules.

You must: Give thanks and eat

Before eating, remember to give thanks to Allah for the food before you. During the meal, always pass to the right.

You must: Share your meal

Invite others to your table. When the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was asked what his favorite food was, he replied, The one I am sharing.