Makrout Algerian Semolina Pastries Recipes

SEMOLINA PASTRY WITH DATES (MAKROUD)

Steps:

• To make the dough: In a mixing bowl, combine semolina, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and almonds. Add oil and 1 cup water, mixing by hand and shaping to form a ball. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• To make the filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the dates, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and almonds, mixing to form a ball.
• Take a piece of filling about the size of a walnut and mold into a plump oval. Take a slightly smaller piece of dough, flatten it and wrap the filling entirely with it, pinching closed. Continue until dough and filling are used up.
• Place a heavy frying pan over medium heat, and add enough oil to come 1 1/2 to 2 inches up the sides. Working in batches, fry the makroud for a few minutes on each side, until golden brown, turning carefully using two spoons. Drain on paper towels. In a small bowl, combine honey and orange flower water. Dip each makroud into the mixture.

MAKROUT (ALGERIAN SEMOLINA PASTRIES)

Steps:

• Combine semolina, oil, butter, and salt in a large bowl. Rub the grains of semolina between your fingers, so that all the grains are well coated. Cover with a kitchen towel and set aside. Let it rest like this for at least 2 hours, but ideally overnight. The mixture should be like wet, oily sand in the morning.
• Combine warm water and orange blossom water when you are ready to make the makrout. Slowly add mixture to the semolina mixture along with flour and vanilla sugar and knead into a soft dough. Add just enough liquid for a soft, smooth dough. Don't overwork the dough-- knead it just enough to have a smooth and flexible dough that can easily be shaped into a ball. Set dough aside.
• Combine ground almonds, sugar, vanilla sugar, cinnamon, and almond extract in a bowl for the filling. Roll mixture into 2 long logs and set aside.
• Divide semolina dough into 2 balls, then flatten to pat into a rectangle, about 3 times the width of your filling logs. Press down in the center of the rectangle with your fingers to form an indentation. Set filling log into the indentation. Fold dough over the filling and press the edges together to seal. Roll the log back and forth gently to shape the dough around the filling and smooth log into a uniform shape. You can cut the logs in half for easier handling.
• Cut each log into diagonal pieces, creating diamond-like shapes. Reshape the cut ends to have a nice uniform look. Set the makrout aside to rest, as you heat up a deep, heavy saucepan with oil - about 3 fingers deep.
• Combine honey and orange flower water in a small saucepan for the syrup. Heat over low heat until just below simmering and keep warm.
• Once the oil is hot, deep-fry makrout in small batches until golden on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Continue frying until all the dough pieces are cooked.
• Dip fried makrout into the hot honey syrup and submerge in the syrup for about 1 minute. Remove and drain on wire racks. Repeat the process, dunking each makrout into the syrup a second time. Remove and drain on wire racks. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using.

MAKROUT A LOUZ - ALGERIAN ALMOND CAKES

Steps:

• Place the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl and mix well - traditionally with your hand.
• Dust work top with a little cornflour, seperate the dough into 1/4's and then roll mixture into a sausage shape - approximately the thickness of a frankfurter or average thumb!
• Cut the sausage into 3cm pieces. Do this at an angle to create lozange or diamond shapes.
• Bake on middle shelf at approx 170°C until set but still pale in colour. THEY SHOULD NOT BE golden.
• When cooled slightly, drop one by one into the syrup. Hold on a fork and allow excess to dribble off before slowly dropping into the sugar.
• Re-dip with sugar 5 mins later and pop into paper cases.
• For the syrup you can make it easily by putting 2 cups of water, a halved lime and 1 cup of sugar in a pan and boiling for 10 minutes. It needs to be nice and light - just enough to hold the icing sugar on.