Basbousa (Center Jap Semolina Cake)

Basbousa is likely one of the hottest Center Jap desserts. It’s made from coarse semolina flour and sweetened by easy syrup. It comes collectively effortlessly and is at all times a crowd-pleaser.

Prep Time 15 minutes | Prepare dinner Time 35 minutes | Complete Time 50 minutes

Course: Dessert | Delicacies: Arab, Arabic, Center Jap

Key phrase: almond semolina cake, basbousa, Basbouseh, hareesa cake, center jap semolina cake, Namoura, semolina coconut cake 

Servings: 24 items Writer: Heifa

Components

1 cup Plain Yogurt

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1.5 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

3 cups Semolina, coarse

1/2 cup Butter, unsalted, melted that is equal to 1 stick of butter

1 cup Wonderful Coconut Flakes within the retailer, this can be labeled as coconut powder or coconut macaroon. I get the Baladna model from the Center Jap market

3/4 cup Milk

2 tbsp Tahini Paste that is used to coat the baking pan

Complete Almonds sufficient for each bit of semolina cake. approx. 24 almonds

Easy Syrup

2 cups Granulated Sugar

1.5 cups Water

Squeeze of lemon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Prep your 9×13 baking dish by brushing the underside of edges of the pan with the tahini paste.

2. In a bowl, combine the yogurt, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda collectively. Set that to the aspect. You’ll discover the yogurt slighty bubble and rise.

3. In one other bowl, stir collectively the semolina with the melted butter till it begins to return collectively. At this level, fold within the coconut powder as effectively.

4. Add the yogurt combination into the semolina combination and mix the 2 effectively. To this, add the milk. Combine till a cohesive batter comes collectively.

5. Add the batter into the prepped baking pan spreading it out evenly. Faucet the baking pan towards a floor to launch any air bubbles which may be within the batter earlier than baking.

6. The batter is thick sufficient to chop into pre baking. Reduce into even squares or diamonds within the dimension of your desire. I received approx. 24 items out of my pan. See video above for demonstration.

7. Add an entire almond to the middle of every piece simply tapping it gently into the batter. You can too add a sprinkle of coconut powder excessive of the batter if you want earlier than baking.

8. Bake uncovered within the oven for 25-30 min on the underside rack till the perimeters begin to brown. Then, transfer the pan to the highest rack for an additional 5-10 minutes so the entire cake will get an attractive gentle brown coloration.

9. Whereas the cake bakes, put together the easy syrup by stirring collectively the sugar and water till the sugar is totally dissolved. Let this simmer for about 8 minutes till it thickens and add a asqueezeof lemon on the finish.

10. As soon as the cake is out of the oven, re-inforce the beforehand minimize traces by going over it once more with a pointy knife. Then, pour the nice and cozy syrup all around the high of the semolina cake. The cake particularly when heat will soak it up.

11. Permit for the cake to chill fully for a minimum of an hour earlier than taking the slices out or you possibly can threat it crumbling. You additionally need the cake to soak up all the syrup. Get pleasure from a slice with a cup of tea or espresso!