Alana shares a delightful recipe for an Egyptian Semolina Cake, also known as basbousa. This cake boasts Middle Eastern flavors and features a unique twist with tahini instead of traditional oils or butter. The semolina serves as the foundation, providing a rich and nutty texture. The cake is enhanced with desiccated coconut, caster sugar, flour, and baking powder. The wet ingredients include Greek yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla bean paste, creating a unique flavor profile. Blanched almonds add a crunchy texture to the cake. After baking, a hot syrup made with water, caster sugar, lemon juice, and rose water is poured over the cake, allowing it to absorb the sweet and fragrant liquid. The finished cake is a showstopper, perfect for entertaining.
Ingredients:
– 2.5 cups semolina
– 1 cup desiccated coconut
– 1 cup caster sugar
– 3/4 cup flour
– 1 tsp baking powder
– 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
– 200g melted butter
– 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
– Blanched almonds for topping
Syrup:
– 1 cup water
– 1.5 cups caster sugar
– 1 tbsp lemon juice
– 1 tsp rose water
Instructions:
- Preheat Oven:
– Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius (fan forced).
- Prepare Dry Ingredients:
– In a large bowl, combine semolina, desiccated coconut, caster sugar, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Prepare Wet Ingredients:
– In a jug, mix Greek yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla bean paste. Stir until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
– Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until a thick batter is formed.
- Add Almonds:
– Fold in blanched almonds into the batter.
- Bake:
– Transfer the batter to a baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
- Prepare Syrup:
– In a saucepan, combine water, caster sugar, lemon juice, and rose water. Allow it to reduce for about 10 minutes.
- Pour Syrup Over Hot Cake:
– Once the cake is baked, pour the hot syrup evenly over it, allowing it to soak into the cake.
- Let it Rest:
– Allow the cake to sit for about an hour, letting the syrup fully absorb.
- Serve:
– Optionally, garnish the cake for an enhanced presentation. Serve with tea or bubbles for a delightful treat at your next dinner party.
Enjoy this Middle Eastern-inspired Semolina Cake that combines the richness of semolina, the nuttiness of tahini, and the fragrant sweetness of the syrup!
