Lebanese Nights Dessert Recipe – Layali Lubnan

Lebanese Nights, aka “Layali Lubnan” is an amazingly aromatic dessert that is quite refreshing in summer time.  It has a rich complex taste stemming from subtle hints of  Mastic (aka Mistika, or Mastika in Greek, or “Arabic Gum” (not to be mistaken with “Gum Arabic”) , orange blossom water and rose water.  The bottom layer is made of the actual pudding, topped with a layer of whipped cream and a layer of coarsely ground fresh pistachios and sugar syrup.

You can serve Layali Lubnan in small cups/shots or you can lay the pudding in a tray as shown in the photos and then cut it into pieces. The pudding can last 3-5 days in the fridge but if you’re planning on keeping it that long you may want to keep the whipped cream in a separate container and add it only for serving. Whipped cream is known to lose volume after a few hours.

Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern
Prep time:  30 mins
Cook time:  20 mins
Total time:  50 mins

Lebanese Nights aka "Layali Lubnan" is an easy-to-make, amazingly aromatic semolina pudding that is quite refreshing in summer time.

Ingredients

Pudding Ingredients (10 servings)
8 cups of whole milk
¾ cup of semolina
1 teaspoon of ground Mastika 
6 to 8 tablespoons of sugar
3 tablespoons of rose water
3 tablespoons of orange blossom water
1 cup of coarsely ground fresh pistachio
Sugar Syrup Ingredients
1 cup of brown or white sugar
¾ cup of water
¼ teaspoon of lemon juice
1 tablespoon of orange blossom water
Whipped Cream Ingredients
2 cups of Heavy Cream (preferably pasteurized, but ultra-pasteurized is also ok)
1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
Vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix milk, semolina and sugar well in a cooking pot then bring to a boil on medium to high heat while continuously stirring and scalping the bottom (this is important so the semolina doesn't clump or stick).
2. As soon as it boils, lower heat to minimum, add ground Mastika all while stirring.
3. When the pudding starts to thicken, remove from heat, add the rose water and orange blossom water, stir a bit so they are well dissipated and then immediately pour the hot pudding into your serving containers.
4. The serving container could be a 2 inch-deep pyrex tray or small serving cups/bowls. Make sure to leave some room on the top for the whipped cream.
5. Let rest and cool down at room temperature for about 40 minutes and meanwhile you can prepare the sugar syrup and the Whipped Cream.
6. Mix water and sugar well then bring to a boil in a saucepan on medium heat.
7. When boiling occurs, lower heat, add ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice and let it simmer for 10 minutes after which you remove from heat, add orange blossom water and let rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
8. Place Heavy Cream in a chilled stainless steal bowl (or place bowl on ice) and with a whisk whip your way through it for a few minutes vigorously.
9. If you are using an electric whipper, start on low speed then increase the speed gradually.
10. After a few minutes of whipping the Heavy Cream will increase in volume and turn into whipped cream as soft peaks start to form. At which point add the sugar and optional vanilla and whip a bit more to mix it in. Don't over-whip the cream so it doesn't turn into butter. Keep whipped cream chilled.
11. Once the pudding has rested and cooled down place it in the fridge for a few minutes to chill, then top it with a ½ to ¾ inch layer of whipped cream, add a sprinkle of coarsely ground Pistachio and serve with sugar syrup (optional).

Easy to Make Lebanese Baklava Rolls Recipe

Baklava, aka Baklawa is a Middle-Eastern dessert whose origins may go as far back as B.C times to the Assyrian civilization.  Through the centuries, many neighboring countries adopted the delicacy and created their own versions.  Today there are dozens of types of “Baklava” grouped in Lebanese Cuisine under “Arabic Sweets”.  In its basic form, Baklava is made of fillo dough, nuts, and sugar syrup and in this post, we’re going to feature a simple recipe of walnut Baklava “fingers.”

Summary: Our Lebanese Baklava Rolls recipe is very easy to prepare at home and it yields delicious authentic Baklava fingers.

Baklava Rolls Ingredients (12 servings)

1 pack of Fillo Dough, thawed
1 cup of coarsely grinded walnuts*
1/3 cup of finely grinded pistachio
7 drops of Orange Blossom Essence**
1/3 lb of sweet/unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons of sugar
optional: A tiny hint of nutmeg powder, ground cloves and ground cardamom
* You can substitute walnuts with pine nuts, pistachio, cashew or your favorite nuts ** You can substitute Orange Blossom Essence with twice the quantity of Orange Blossom Water

Baklava Sugar Syrup Ingredients

1 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of water
1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of  Orange Blossom Water
Brush Butter on Fillo Dough
Add Nuts to Fillo Dough
Roll Into a 3/4 Inch Thick Dough
Cut Into 2-inch Pieces and Place in Tray
Bake For 30 Minutes at 350F
Add Syrup and Decorate With Pistachio

Preparation Method

Baklava Stuffing: Mix the ground walnuts or your favorite nuts with 2 teaspoons of sugar and a few drops of Orange Blossom Essence. Alternatively, you could use 1 teaspoon of regular Orange Blossom Water.

Baklava Rolls: Place one sheet of thawed fillo dough on a cutting board then lightly brush it with melted butter. Repeat the process by placing 3 more fillo dough sheets on top of one another while buttering each sheet prior to placing the next one. Add 4-5 teaspoons of the Baklava Stuffing along the width of the dough. Roll tightly until the thickness of the roll is about 3/4th of an inch. Cut along the roll to separate it from the leftover fillo dough sheet, which could be used for another roll. Cut the Baklava roll into a few pieces, a couple of inches each then place in a buttered baking tray and brush rolls one last time with a bit of butter. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. The color of a perfectly cooked baklava dough should be light brown/golden, but not too dark as the taste can change.

Preparing the Simple Sugar Syrup: While the Baklava is baking, mix 1 cup of sugar with 3/4 cup of water, place in a pot on medium heat stirring occasionally. Once it starts to boil add the lemon juice then lower the heat to the min and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Once done, add the Orange Blossom Water at the end and let it rest and cool down. In our case and since we like to avoid bleached products, we used brown sugar in preparing the syrup which yielded the dark brown color. However you can make it with white sugar which would yield a transparent syrup with a lighter flavor.

Soaking the Baklava: After the Baklava is baked and while it’s still hot, immediately pour a few tablespoons of simple sugar syrup all over the rolls and let the dough absorb it. Sprinkle a bit of pistachio on each piece for decoration and let rest for 45-60 minutes prior to serving. Baklava can be stored at room temperature (in an air-tight container) for 2-3 weeks.

Preparation time: 1 hour(s)
Cooking time: 30 minute(s)
Diet type: Vegetarian
Number of servings (yield): 12
Culinary tradition: Middle Eastern

Source: Mama’s Lebanese Kitchen

Saniora's palace bread (Aish el saraya) recipe

6:00 Prep | 0:15 Cook | 12 Servings | Capable cooks

Super Food Ideas

A traditional Egyptian Palace Bread. It may be simple to prepare, but it's full of love

Ingredients

10 slices white bread, crusts removed, toasted
2 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup caster sugar
600ml thickened cream
1/3 cup cornflour
2 teaspoons rosewater (see notes)
1 cup chopped pistachio kernels (see notes)

Rosewater Syrup

2/3 cup caster sugar
3 teaspoons lemon juice
3 teaspoons rosewater

Method

Make Rosewater Syrup: Place sugar, juice and 2/3 cup water in a medium saucepan. Stir over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high. Bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Stir in rosewater. Cool for 10 minutes.

Place 1/2 the bread in a 5cm-deep, 17cm x 26cm (6-cup-capacity) baking dish, cutting to fit. Pour 1/2 of the syrup over the bread in the dish. Top with remaining bread, cutting to fit. Drizzle with remaining syrup.

Place milk, sugar, cream and cornflour in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, for 6 to 8 minutes or until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in rosewater. Pour over the bread in the dish. Sprinkle with pistachio. Set aside to cool for 20 minutes. Refrigerate overnight or until set. Serve.

Notes

You'll need to start this recipe 1 day ahead.

You could use rosewater essence instead. Use 1 teaspoon of essence in the cream mixture and 2 teaspoons in the syrup.

Toasted almonds or hazelnuts would also work well in this recipe.

Author: Saniora Malak Image credit: Andrew Young Publication: Super Food Ideas

Filo pastries filled with spiced mince and pine nuts (znoud el-sit) recipe

“Lebanese pastries are a must at any banquet, and home cooks are not forgiven if at least one is not served,” says Norma. Znoud el-sit, meaning “ladies’ arms”, are traditionally sweet pastries, but in this recipe Norma has stuffed them with the popular savoury filling, hashwi.

Makes 15 | Preparation 30min | Cooking 35min | Skill level Easy

By
Norma Dakhoul

Ingredients

50 g (⅓ cup) pine nuts
80 ml (⅓ cup) olive oil, plus extra, to brush
2 onions, finely chopped
250 g minced lamb or beef
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses, plus extra, to serve
15 sheets filo pastry, fresh or thawed

Spice mixture

½ tsp allspice
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground coriander
¼ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp ground nutmeg

Cook's notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.

Instructions

Cooling time 20 minutes

To make spice mixture, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Place pine nuts in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until browned, then remove from pan and set aside. Add oil to the pan with onion and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until softened. Add meat and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, for 6 minutes or until browned. Add 1 tsp of the spice mixture and ¾ tsp salt and cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in toasted pine nuts and pomegranate molasses. Set aside to cool completely.

Preheat oven to 200°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Lay a sheet of filo pastry on a clean work surface or chopping board, with a long edge facing you. Brush the half closest to you with oil, then fold in half lengthwise. Turn filo so that the short edge is facing you and brush with oil. Shape a heaped tablespoonful of cooled filling along the short edge closest to you, leaving a 2.5 cm border on sides and bottom. Roll short edge over filling to enclose, then fold in the 2 longer sides and roll up to form a cigar shape. Place seam side-down on prepared oven tray and repeat with remaining filo pastry and filling to make 15 rolls.

Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Serve pastries with extra pomegranate molasses.

Photography Mark Roper
Styling Berni Smithies
Food Preparation Norma Dakhoul
Source: SBS

Namoora (Basboosa) Recipe

Namoora (Basboosa)

"Middle Eastern dessert."

From allrecipes.com
Recipe by: Basma Yacoub


1 h 50 m 16 servings 286 cals

Ingredients

1 tablespoon tahini (sesame seed paste)
2 cups dry farina cereal
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon butter, softened
16 blanched almond halves
2 cups white sugar
2 cups water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon orange flower water (optional)
Add all ingredients to list

Directions

Prep 20 m | Cook 30 m | Ready In 1 h 50 m

1. Line a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with aluminum foil and generously butter the foil. Spread the tahini evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan in a thin layer.
2. Mix together farina cereal with 1 1/2 cup of sugar and baking powder in a bowl. Mix in the yogurt and 1 tablespoon of softened butter gently with your hands until the dough is smooth. Spread dough out into the prepared baking dish. Pat the surface smooth. Cover the dish with foil, and allow to stand at room temperature for 2 hours. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 squares; push an almond half gently into the top of each square.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
4. Bake in the preheated oven until the dessert is set and the top is lightly golden brown, about 30 minutes.
5. While the dessert is baking, make the syrup. Place 2 cups of sugar into a saucepan with the water, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Stir in the lemon juice, and boil the syrup for 5 minutes; stir in butter and orange flower water until combined. Pour the hot syrup over the dessert as soon as it comes out of the oven. Let cool for 1 to 2 hours to let the syrup absorb before serving.

Editor's Note:
Dry farina is commonly sold in the US under the Cream of Wheat(R) brand.

Semolina Turmeric Cake (Sfoof) Recipe

Semolina Turmeric Cake (Sfoof)

Recipe by: Lara
"A Lebanese dessert that is not overly sweet. It is pleasing to the American palate due to it's lack of rose water and orange blossom essence, found in most Middle Eastern desserts. Sahteyn! (bon appetit!)"

From allrecipes.com

12 servings | 263 cals

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups semolina flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/8 cups white sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pine nuts
Add all ingredients to list

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch round baking pan.
2. In a small bowl, mix semolina, flour, turmeric and baking powder. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, stir milk and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add flour mixture and oil and beat with an electric beater at medium speed for 5 minutes. This step is essential, do not use any shortcuts.
4. Pour into a prepared 9 inch round pan. Sprinkle top with pine nuts. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out dry.

Kanafeh/Künefe (Sweet Cheese Pastry) Recipe

Kanafeh/Künefe (Sweet Cheese Pastry)

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 12

A pastry consisting of hot cheese in between layers crispy shredded phyllo dough in a sweet syrup that is common in the Middle East.

Ingredients

1/2 pound shredded phyllo (called: kataifi or kunefe), thawed as directed on package
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 cups mozzarella, shredded
2 cups feta (soaked in water for an hour) or goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup simple syrup or 1/4 cup apple and/or pear sauce

Directions

1. Break the pastry apart into one or two inch long pieces, separating the strands. (A few pulses of a food process helps with this.)
2. Mix the butter into the pastry with your hands in a large bowl until coated and press half of it into the bottom of a greased metal baking pan in a thin layer.
3. Pulse the cheeses in a food processor until the mixture reaches the consistency of a coarse meal and press it into the dough in the pan.
4. Press the remaining dough onto the cheese and bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until lightly golden brown, about 20-30 minutes.
5. Serve warm covered in syrup or topped with apple and/or pear sauce.

Note: Top make the simple syrup, simmer 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar until the sugar has disolved and let cool.

Nutrition Facts: Calories 280, Fat 18g (Saturated 11g, Trans 0.3g), Cholesterol 57mg, Sodium 489mg, Carbs 20g (Fiber 0.3g, Sugars 9g), Protein 9g

Source: Closet Cooking

Fruit Pie with Jam Recipe

Fruit Pie with Jam

Fruit tarts are such wonderful treats - you see them in bakeries and in restaurants, and now you can serve them in your own home. Not sure how? All you need to do is follow this recipe by our al alali top chef. Watch how al alali chef prepared it easily!

Preparation Time: 1 hour approximately
Cooking Time: 30 minutes approximately
Serves: 4 persons

All you need

8 pcs pastry sheets
400g pears cut cubes
400g green apple cut cubes
60g butter unsalted
Sugar for filling
2/3 cups al alali Raspberry Preserve for filling
2 cups al alali Raspberry Preserve for sauce
2/3 cup water for sauce
Lemon zest as required for sauce
1/4 cup white flour mixed in water

Directions

1. In a sauce pan melt butter, then add apple and pears cube. Sauté with little sugar
2. Add the 2/3 cups of al alali Raspberry Preserve to the sautéed fruits
3. Add little water to smooth texture, then keep reducing to low heat to cook apple and pears, and become soft. Keep aside to cool
4. In another sauce pan, mix well the 2 cups of al alali Raspberry Preserve with 150 ml water and lemon zest
5. Cook on medium heat to reduce for half quantity and become thicker sauce. Allow to cool aside
6. Spread pastry sheet on flat board, then stuff it with cooked apple and pears sauce. Wrap the sheet in the shape you like
7. Use flour and water mix to stick the end side sheets to avoid opening while deep frying
8. Heat oil in deep fryer pan, then fry wraps until golden crisp
9. Strain well from existing frying oil and cool aside
10. Cut roll in the middle and top with raspberry sauce prepared before, and scoop of Vanilla Ice cream if available
11. Serve and enjoy!

Source: alalali

Basbousah with cream recipe

Basbousah with cream

Pamper your family with this traditional Arabic dessert.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes approximately
Cooking Time: 45 minutes approximately
Serves: 4 persons

All you need

1 pack al alali Basbousah Mix

Stuffing
4 cups milk prepared from al alali Full Cream Milk Powder
1/4 cup al alali Corn Starch
1/4 cup al alali Cream Delight prepared from 1 sachet
2 tbsps. orange blossom water

Syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
Lemon juice
1 tbsp. orange blossom water
1 tbsp. rose water

Decoration
1/4 cup pistachio
1/4 cup rose jam
1 tbsp. tahineh for greasing the pan

Directions

• Prepare al alali Basbousah as per directions mentioned on the pack

Cream

• Boil 3 cups of milk on low fire
• Mix remaining milk with al alali Corn Starch
• Add to the hot milk, stirring continuously
• Add orange blossom water. Set aside until cool
• Mix with prepared al alali Cream Delight

Syrup

• Mix sugar and water and boil on low fire
• Add few drops of lemon juice
• Boil until thick
• Add orange blossom water & rose water

Basbousah with Cream

• Pre-heat oven to 180ºC or 350ºF
• Grease pan with tahineh
• Spread half of the prepared Basbousah in the pan
• Add cream on top
• Spread the remaining Basbousah over the cream
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden
• Pour the syrup on top of Basbousah while hot
• Return to oven for 3 minutes
• Decorate with pistachio and rose jam
• Serve cold and enjoy

Source: alalali

White chocolate baklava cigars recipe

White chocolate baklava cigar

All good things must come to a close, but you'll look forward to the end if it means relishing these creamy, slender delights.

To Prep 0:45
To Cook 0:20
INGREDIENTS 9
DIFFICULTY EASY
MAKES 16

Ingredients

105g (3/4 cup) slivered almonds, coarsely chopped
100g white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon caster sugar
12 sheets filo pastry
60g unsalted butter, melted
225g (1 cup) white sugar
125ml (1/2 cup) water
5 cardamom pods, bruised
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Method

Step 1
Place the almonds, chocolate and caster sugar in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped.

Step 2
Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Place the filo on a clean work surface. Cover with a clean tea towel, then a damp tea towel (this will prevent it drying out). Brush 1 filo sheet with melted butter. Top with another filo sheet and brush with melted butter. Repeat with another filo sheet and melted butter. Cut into quarters. Spoon 1 tablespoonful of almond mixture along the centre of 1 narrow edge of each filo stack. Fold in sides and roll up to create a cigar shape. Place, seam-side down, on the lined tray and brush with melted butter. Repeat with remaining filo sheets, almond mixture and melted butter. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.

Step 3
Meanwhile, place white sugar and water in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the sugar dissolves. Add cardamom pods. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes or until syrup thickens. Stir in the lemon juice.

Step 4
Place cigars in a heatproof dish. Drizzle over the syrup. Serve.

Notes

You can prepare this recipe to the end of step 1 up to 2 hours ahead. Continue from step 2 up to 1 hour ahead.

Nutrition

Energy 822kJ
Fat saturated 4.00g
Fat Total 9.00g
Carbohydrate sugars 19.00g
Carbohydrate Total 25.00g
Dietary Fibre 1.00g
Protein 3.00g
Cholesterol 11.00mg
Sodium 81.11mg

All nutrition values are per serve.

Australian Good Taste - March 2007 , Page 70
Recipe by Alison Roberts

Photography by William Meppem

Knafeh with Cheese Recipe

Knafeh with Cheese

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Serves: 10 people
Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

Knafeh

250 gram Knafeh dough
1/2 cup butter, melted
500g fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into halves and frozen
100 grams milk
Pinch of salt

Syrup

2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup water
A few drops of lemon juice
1 teaspoon blossom water
2 teaspoon rose water

For garnish

Pistachio powder
any edible flowers

Directions

To prepare the Syrup:

Boil sugar and water in a sauce pan. Add drops of lemon juice. Let the mixture boils on low heat for about 20 minutes. Add blossom water and rose water. Strain the mixture and set aside to cool.

To prepare Kunafa:

Preheat oven at 200 °C.

Mix milk, butter and a pinch of salt.

Divide kunafa into smooth strands about 13 cm long. Spread part of the kunafa dough.

Brush kunafa with butter and milk. Wrap a piece of the frozen mozzarela cheese with kunafa and form it like a ball.

Put kunafa in a muffin or tart pan. Repeat the process until the pan is filled with kunafa then pour a little of butter and milk on top.

Place another pan filled with chickpeas of beans over the kunafa pan.

Bake for 20 minutes until gaining a little color of golden brown.

After 10 minutes, remove the pan which is filled with chickpeas or beans.


Continue baking for another 10 minutes.

Pour cold syrup over hot knafeh. Let it rest for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle with pistachio powder and garnish with edible flowers. Serve hot

Source: Lebanese Recipes

Basbousa with Chocolate Recipe

Basbousa with Chocolate Recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes | Serves: 12 persons| Level: Medium

Ingredients

2 cups caster sugar
1/4 cup honey
1 cup water
1 stick cinnamon
2 pods cardamom
1/2 orange peel
1/2 cup butter
8 bars soft dark chocolate
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 cup semolina
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla

To garnish
boiled almonds

Directions

- Preheat oven to 180°C.

- Place sugar, honey, water, cardamom and orange peel in a sauce pan. Let it cook for five minutes. Let mixture cools.

- Melt butter and chocolate in a hot water bath.

- Mix remaining ingredients together and add to the chocolate mixture and Mix well.

- Pour mixture in a baking ban greased with butter. Cut it into desired shapes using a knife. Place an almond over each piece. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

- Remove from oven and power sugar syrup over it.

- Place basbousa again in over for another 5 minutes.

Source: Lebanese Recipes

Nammoura Recipe

Nammoura or Basbousa is a traditional Somali sweet cake. It is made of cooked semolina or farina soaked in simple syrup. Coconut is a popular addition. The syrup may also optionally contain orange flower water or rose water. Other than Somalia and neighboring countries, it is also eaten in the former countries of the Ottoman Empire.
For the Syrup

2 cups of sugar

1 cup of water

1 juice of half lemon

1 cinnamon stick

In a medium size quart, add the sugar, water, juice of half a lemon and the cinnamon stick, bring to a boil, lower the heat and cook for about 10-15 minutes.

For this recipe, the syrup needs to be hot when poured over the Nammoura.


For the Nammoura

  1 & 1/2 cups of  semolina flour

1 cup of yogurt

1 stick of melted unsalted butter

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of Tahini paste

1/4 cup of almonds

In a large bowl, combine the semolina, the yogurt, the butter and sugar.  Mix all the ingredients well.  Add in the vanilla extract, and the baking powder.  You can add the coconut flakes at this point if using.

Spread the tahini paste in a medium, you can use butter to butter the bottom of the pan if you don’t have tahini.  Pour your mixture and spread evenly.  Cut the mixture into squares and top with almonds in each square.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.  As soon as the Nammoura comes out of the oven pour over the hot syrup immediately.

Let the Nammoura cool off completely, cut into squares, serve with tea or coffee.

Enjoy!

More Recipes from the Hummus Blog:   

Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies"
Traditional arabic hot pudding with kiri 
Colored Pudding
Broiled Filo Rounds
Date Bake     
Creamy Semolina Pudding 

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Date Fingers Recipe

Photo: Date Fingers Recipe

Duration : 10 Min

Ingredients

The Dough
3     Cups     Flour
1     Tablespoon     Instant Yeast
1     Tablespoon     Sugar
1     Teaspoon     Baking Powder
1/4     Teaspoon     Salt
1/4     Teaspoon     Cinnamon
1/2     Cup     Corn Oil
3/4     Cup     Warm Water

The Filling
500     Gram     Date Paste
1     Tablespoon     Butter Or Ghee
1     Teaspoon     Cinnamon

Topping
1     Large     Egg
1/4     Teaspoon     Vanilla Extract
1/4     Cup     Roasted Sesame
1/4     Cup     Sliced Almonds

Preparation

1. In a stand mixing bowl, put 2 ½ cups of the flour. Add the yeast, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, oil and water. Fit the dough hook. Beat on slow speed until dough forms. Add the rest of the flour if the dough is too soft. Beat on low speed for 5 minutes.
2. Shape the dough into a ball. Put in slightly oiled bowl. Cover the dough with a cling film. Put in a warm place until dough doubled in size.
3. The filling: mix the date, butter and cinnamon until well mixed. Shape into 20 inches rods.
4. To form the fingers: on a slightly floured surface, roll the dough into 20 inches square. Place one date rod near the edge of the dough. Roll the dough once or twice to cover the date rod. Using a pizza cutter, cut near the dough rod. Roll the rod with your palms to smooth. Using the pizza cutter or a knife cut the filled rod into 2 inches fingers.
5. Place the date fingers in cookie sheet leaving 1 inch between them. Put in a warm place for 10-15 minutes.
6. The topping: mix the egg and vanilla extract. Brush the fingers with the egg wash. Sprinkle the sesame and almonds.
7. Fit the middle rack in the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake date fingers for 10 -12 minutes until golden brown 

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White chocolate and cranberry fudge recipe

Photo: White chocolate and cranberry fudge recipe

Takes: 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook, 1 hr to cool
Serves:10

Ingredients

350g (12oz) granulated sugar
25g (1oz) unsalted butter
170ml (6fl oz) can evaporated milk
100g (3½oz) dried sweetened cranberries
300g (10oz) white chocolate, chopped

Preparation

Cut a piece of baking parchment large enough to line a shallow 25x20cm (10x8in) baking tin or a 1kg (2lb) loaf tin.

Put the sugar, butter, and evaporated milk in a large heavy-based pan. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved completely.

Bring to the boil, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. It is a good idea to set a timer for this.

Immediately remove from the heat then add the cranberries and chocolate. Allow the chocolate to melt, then quickly stir the mixture and pour straight into the tin. It will thicken immediately.

Spread into the tin and chill for an hour or so until firm. Cut into squares.

Use a piece of card to make a festive box for the fudge. Line with baking parchment, decorate with ribbon, and attach a message.

Adopted from Tesco Realfood

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Cranberry Christmas cake cubes recipe

Photo: Cranberry Christmas cake cubes recipe

Takes; 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 25 mins to cook, 15 mins to cool

Makes: 12 squares

Ingredients

185g (6½oz) dried cranberries
300g (10oz) sultanas
300g (10oz) raisins
200g (7oz) dried apricots, chopped
200g (7oz) dried figs, chopped
100g (3½oz) toasted hazelnuts, chopped
350g (12oz) plain flour
zest of 2 oranges
2tsp mixed spice
1tsp ground cinnamon
300g (10oz) butter
300g (10oz) light muscovado sugar
6 medium eggs, beaten

Preparation

Preheat the oven to gas 3, 170°C, fan 150°C. Grease and line the base and sides of a straight-sided, 33x25cm (13x9in) rectangular cake tin that is about 6cm (2½in) deep with nonstick baking paper.

Place the dried fruit, hazelnuts, flour, orange zest and spices into a large mixing bowl and stir to combine.

Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until creamy and pale. Gradually whisk in the eggs. Add a little flour if necessary to help prevent curdling.

Add the egg mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients and gently stir to combine. Pour into the cake tin and use a spatula to lightly smooth the surface. Place in the centre of the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Reduce oven to gas 2, 150°C, fan 130°C and cook for a further 45-55 minutes until dark golden, firm, and a skewer comes out clean.

Set aside to cool, then turn out and leave upside down. Cut into squares.

To decorate
Print out our Christmas tree stencil below. Cut out in cardboard, place on the cakes and dust with icing sugar. The cakes will store in a cake tin for up to 2 weeks.

Adopted from Tesco Realfood

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Christmas Mendiants Recipe

Photo: Christmas Mendiants Recipe

Takes: 10mins to prepare, 10mins to cook and 30mins chilling time
Serves: 4

Ingredients

300g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
25g mixed candied peel
50g whole blanched almonds
25g pine nuts
15g unsalted pistachios

Preparation

Grease and line two baking sheets with greaseproof paper.

Place the chocolate in a large, heatproof mixing bowl and sit over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted, then remove from the heat. Spoon 1tbsp of the melted chocolate at a time onto the baking sheets, spaced apart; the chocolate will spread out naturally into a round.

Decorate each with a mixture of the nuts and mixed candied peel. Chill for 20-30 minutes until the chocolate has set. Line in rows on a presentation tray when ready to serve.

Adopted from Tesco Realfood

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Cinnamon and rosewater rice pudding with pomegranate syrup recipe

Photo: Cinnamon and rosewater rice pudding with pomegranate syrup recipe

Rice pudding is a winter comfort all over the globe. In Portugal, it’s called arroz doce and, in France, it’s known as riz au lait. This version, served with pomegranate syrup and pistachios, is very much a Middle Eastern variation. The trickle of the tart and sweet syrup is the perfect match for this creamy, cinnamon-spiked rice dessert.

Serves 6
Preparation 15min
Cooking 1hr 15min
Skill level Mid

By Kate Gibbs

Ingredients

1 litre milk
250 ml (1 cup) thickened cream
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 vanilla bean, split, seeds scraped
½ tsp ground cinnamon
220 g short-grain rice
½ tsp rosewater (see Note)
dried rose petals (see Note) (optional), chopped pistachios and pomegranate seeds, to serve

Pomegranate syrup

750 ml (3 cups) unsweetened pomegranate juice
55 g (¼ cup) caster sugar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 

Chocolate Mohallabiah Recipe - How to make Chocolate Mohallabiah Recipe

Photo: Chocolate Mohallabiah Recipe

Muhallabieh is typically a Lebanese dessert but is popular all over the Middle East in various forms.
 
Cuisine: Oriental
Category: 30 Minutes or Less
Serves: 10 persons
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Cheap

Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 15 minutes 
 
Ingredients

4 cups water or 1 liter

1 tin NESTLÉ® Sweetened Condensed Milk or 397 g

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

6 tablespoons corn flour

1 tablespoon rose water

1 tablespoon blossom water

1 cup dark chocolate or 150 g, grated

3 tablespoons ground pistachio nuts

Preparation

Add water, NESTLÉ® Sweetened Condensed Milk , cocoa powder and corn flour in a large saucepan. Bring to boil and simmer on low heat with constant stirring until it thickens.

Remove from heat, stir in the rosewater and blossom water then pour it over an individual cups and set them aside to cool into a room temperature.

Sprinkle the grated chocolate over the cooled mouhallabieh and set in the fridge until the serving time.

Source: Nestle Family

More Recipes from the Hummus Blog:  

Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies"
Traditional arabic hot pudding with kiri 
Colored Pudding
 Broiled Filo Rounds
Date Bake     
Creamy Semolina Pudding  

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Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies" Recipe

Photo: Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies" Recipe

The Hummus blog: The home of hummus dips and traditional Middle Eastern food invites you to try Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies" Recipe. Enjoy the Middle Eastern cuisine and learn how to make Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies". 

Ingredients

1 cup soft butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Flavor Options
 2 teaspoons instant coffee OR
2 teaspoons strawberry or mint syrup

Garnish Options
 -Whole nuts, coarsely chopped pistachios, coffee beans, or chocolate chips, for topping
-Cocoa powder or ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
-Melted dark and/or white chocolate, for drizzling
-Date Paste, for filling

Method

-Preheat oven to 170˚C (350˚F).
-In bowl of electric mixer, cream butter with powdered sugar and vanilla on medium speed. Mix flour with baking soda and beat into butter mixture on low speed. Add coffee or syrup and beat until combined. (Or, divide dough and add different flavoring to each one.) Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
-Shape dough into walnut-size balls and place, well apart, on a baking sheet. If topping with nuts, lightly press thumb into center of each ball and top with one whole nut.
-Bake for 15 minutes, until set but not browned.
-Let cool, then arrange on serving plate. If desired, sprinkle with cocoa powder or cinnamon, or drizzle with melted chocolate before serving.

Shaping variations
 
 -Roll dough into a cylinder. Cut diagonally into slices, then drag the tines of a fork over the top to decorate. Bake, let cool, then drizzle with chocolate.
-Shape dough into walnut-size balls. Press thumb into balls to make cups. Fill cups with smaller balls of date filling. Mold dough over filling, pressing seams to seal. Roll into date-shaped fingers. Roll in ground pistachios, then bake. 

By Chef Osama 

More Recipes from the Hummus Blog: 

Traditional arabic hot pudding with kiri
Colored Pudding
Broiled Filo Rounds
Date Bake    
Creamy Semolina Pudding  
Lebanese cream slice    

Save and share Ghorayeba"Shortbread Cookies" Recipe

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