Baraziq Sesame Cookies Syria Middle East Recipes

BARAZIQ -- SESAME COOKIES (SYRIA -- MIDDLE EAST)

Steps:

• FOR THE COOKIES: In a mixing bowl, combine sugar & butter & stir together with a wooden spoon until completely blended.
• Add rest of the cookie ingredients & blend with your hands until there is a soft dough. (If too soft to work with immediately, refrigerate for 1 hour.).
• Divide dough into 18 pieces to make small baraziq.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Shape each ball of dough with your hands until you have a thin disk about 2 1/2 inches across, & place it on a large platter. Repeat with the other pieces of dough.
• FOR THE GARNISH: Put the egg white in a saucer, the pistachio nuts in another saucer & the sesame seeds in a third saucer.
• Dip each of the shaped disks in the egg white, then in the pistachios ON ONE SIDE ONLY & then in the toasted sesame seeds on the other side, making sure you coat them well with the seeds.
• Arrange the coated disks, pistachio side down, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake 25-35 minutes or until cookies are golden brown, then let cool before serving. Keep uneaten cookies up to 2 weeks in a tightly sealed container.

SYRIAN MANOUSHI BREAD

Steps:

• Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the yeast and salt.
• Dissolve the sugar in the warm water and dribble it into the dry ingredients until they absorb enough to make a sticky dough, how much water is required will entirely depend upon your flour.
• Mix in the olive oil and use your hands - or the dough hook on your electric mixer - to knead the dough until it is smooth and silky. It will take about 10 minutes.
• Lightly oil the ball of dough and put it into a bowl.
• Cover and leave in a warm place to rise for 2 hours, by which time it should have at least doubled in size.
• Knock the air out of the dough, then tip it out onto a floured work surface. Cut the dough into12 portions, then lightly flour each one and put them on a tray, covered, for another 10 minutes.
• When ready to cook, roll each portion out to a 15 cm (6 in) circle and cover with the topping of your choice.
• Bake in a hot oven (450 -500f) until done to your liking.