BASBOUSA (MIDDLE EASTERN DESSERT)

BASBOUSA (MIDDLE EASTERN DESSERT)

Basbousa is a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cake. It is made from a semolina mixture and sweetened with orange flower water or rose water simple syrup. It is so soft that it just melts in your mouth. This recipe is must try.

PREPARATION TIME: 15 mins        COOKING TIME:35-45 mins   SERVING: 8

INGREDIENTS

For Sugar Syrup:
Sugar 2 cups
Water 2 cups
lemon juice 1 tsp 
vanilla or rosewater 1 tsp (you can even use any other flavoring that you prefer, like saffron or cardamom)

For Basbousa:
Semolina/sooji 2 cups
All-purpose flour 1/2 cup
Baking powder 2 tsp
Sugar 1/4 cup 
Desiccated coconut 1 cup 
Butter melted 2/3 cup 
Plain yogurt 1 cup  (or you can mix half yogurt and half milk)
Eggs 3
Vanilla essence 1 tsp 
Almonds blanched as required

METHOD
For Sugar Syrup:

• First, prepare the syrup. Combine the water, sugar in a small pan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and gently simmer for about 5-8 minutes. Then turn off the heat, add lemon juice and rose water or vanilla essence mix well and let it cool down.

For Basbousa:

• In a bowl, add eggs and sugar, whisk until sugar is completely dissolved then add semolina, coconut desiccated and yogurt, place sifter, add all-purpose flour & baking powder and sift together.
• Now add melted butter, vanilla essence, and mix well until well combined.
• Grease baking pan with butter, pour the batter and spread it, and tab baking pan or 2-3 times.
• Leave it for about 30 minutes to set properly. (This helps the semolina to absorb the liquids.)
• Cut as per the design required and decorate the top with blanched almonds on each piece.
• Bake in the preheated oven at 180 C for 35-45 minutes and turn on top oven grill and bake for another 5 minutes.
• After baking retraces the cuts and pour prepared sugar syrup.
• Sweet, moist Basbousa is ready ….

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