Safra Traditional Libyan Semolina And Date Cake Wsyrup Recipes

SEMOLINA TURMERIC CAKE (SFOOF)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch round baking pan.
• In a small bowl, mix semolina, flour, turmeric and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir milk and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add flour mixture and oil and beat with an electric beater at medium speed for 5 minutes. This step is essential, do not use any shortcuts.
• Pour into a prepared 9 inch round pan. Sprinkle top with pine nuts. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out dry.

SAFRA - TRADITIONAL LIBYAN SEMOLINA AND DATE CAKE W/SYRUP

Steps:

• Put the oil and dates in a heavy skillet and cook over low heat, stirring continuously, for about 20 minutes, or until a thick paste has formed.
• Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the cinnamon and cloves. Cool the paste. Mix cake ingredients except the almonds or cloves together into a thick batter.
• Put half of the batter into a cake tin 12 x 12 in., or 12 x 16 inches Put in the date filling, pressing it into the corners of the tin so that it covers the batter. Pour in the balance of the batter and smooth out the surface.
• Lightly score the top of the cake in 2- inches diamond shapes or square pieces. Put 1 blanched almond in the center of each diamond or press 1 whole clove into each piece, with the stem down. (clove is prettier but yor not going to eat it!).
• Put the cake tin into the center of the oven so that it bakes evenly, and bake in a 350 degree F. oven for 45 minutes.
• Put all syrup ingredients into a pan and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. When the cake is removed from the oven, pour the hot syrup over the top and allow it to be absorbed.
• Let the cake stand at room temperature for at least 6 hours before eating.

ALGERIAN BASBOUSSA - SEMOLINA CAKE WITH SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C Grease a large baking dish (approx. 11" x7").
• In a pan, place the sugar & water from the 'Syrup Ingredients', bring to the boil then simmer until you have a pale golden colour. Remove from the heat & stir in the lemon juice & the orange flower water. Set aside to cool, you can also store this syrup in the fridge until you need to use it.
• Place all the wet ingredients in a large bowl & using a hand mixer, mix until creamy. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time & mix well.
• Pour into your baking dish & level off the surface with the back of a dessert spoon or palett knife. With a small knife, score the surface into equal squares or diamonds & place a blanced almond in the centre of each square / diamond.
• Bake in the oven until golden - this will take approximately 30-40 minutes.
• Remove from the oven & cut through the scored squares / diamonds. Pour the syrup over the top & allow the Basboussa to soak up the syrup before serving. It is best to leave it for at least 2 hours for best results.