Filling your own home (and coronary heart) with candy baking smells, maamoul bi ajwa is related to particular events like eid, however could be eaten 12 months spherical too. It’s a golden crumbly cookie with a candy date filling.
Substances
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup clarified butter/ghee (or butter or a mixture of each)
1/3 cup powder sugar
1 teaspoon yeast
1/2 teaspoon mahlab (mahaleb)
1/4 cup heat water
12 oz pitted baking dates
Instructions
1. Begin by activating the yeast by dissolving it in 1/4 cup heat water with 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Go away for 10 minutes till foamy and able to use.
2. In the meantime, put together the dough by combining flour, mahaleb and sugar. You possibly can substitute among the flour with complete wheat flour or semolina (smeed) for an additional crunch. Add melted (however not scorching) clarified butter and blend very properly till included. Lastly, add the yeast water and knead till the dough comes collectively. This can be a thicker dough (extra like playdough). Cowl and permit to relaxation for 2 hours.
3. To make the filling, chop the dates (use a meals processor if wanted), then knead till they type a dough. Make into 24 little 2/3 inch balls. You possibly can rub your palms with little vegetable oil for simple dealing with. Don’t add sugar to dates as they’re naturally very candy. Use darkish delicate dates (ajwa) or simply purchase a package deal of baking dates accessible in most Center Jap groceries.
4. After the dough has rested, divide it into 24 one-inch balls. Hallow every ball (see image under) together with your index finger, place one date ball and seal the ball.
5. Syrians use particular picket maamoul molds to offer inventive shapes to the cookies. When you have one, rub it with some vegetable oil earlier than use so the dough received’t follow it. Press one dough ball evenly into the mildew and hit its edge on a floor in order that the cookie comes out. If a mildew shouldn’t be accessible, press the cookie together with your palm on a pan and adorn with a fork.
6. Organize in a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 F oven for 10-13 minutes till golden brown. Broil on low for the final 2 minutes to brown the floor just a little.
7. Cool fully earlier than serving. Retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature. These cookies can preserve as much as three weeks.
8. Take pleasure in maamoul with tea or espresso.
Makes 24 items
Supply: SYRIAN COOKING
