Kahk Cookies

5 cups all purpose flour

1¼ cups milk

2-2 ½ cups ghee

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon clove powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon ginger powder

1 teaspoon yeast

2 tablespoons baking powder

Filling/Stuffing

2cups dates paste

1 cup chopped pistachio

 About the image above: Egyptian kahk cookies

Combine the flour, powdered spices and baking powder, sieve and keep aside.

In a pot put the ghee on the head until boiling and add the flour mixture slowly and stir continuously with a wooden spatula and it set.

Take out from the fire and cool a bit, when the mixture bit cool but still warm add the yeast and sugar and stir gently.

Form the dough into balls and stuff inside with nuts and dates paste. Arrange them on a baking tray. Cook in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take out from the oven and allow cooling, sprinkle with sugar powder before serving. Makes about 60-80 pieces

Super Chef Diary: Kushef

Super Chef Diary: Kushef: 1 cup dry date of dates 1¼ liter milk ½ cup dried plum, roughly chopped ½ cup dried apricot, roughly chopped ¼ cup roasted almond,...

Kushef

1 cup dry date of dates

1¼ liter milk

½ cup dried plum, roughly chopped

½ cup dried apricot, roughly chopped

¼ cup roasted almond, chopped

¼ cup roasted walnut, chopped

¼ cup roasted pistachio

¼ cup raisin, chopped

¼ cup shaved coconut or young coconut

3-4 tablespoons natural honey

About the image above: Egyptian style kushef

Soaked the dried date and clean up the skin. And roughly cut the date. In a clean bowl, combine the ingredients and soak it, and keep in the fridge to allow the kushef cooling and taste nice. Make about 3.5 liters

Super Chef Diary: Dates Candy Balls

Super Chef Diary: Dates Candy Balls: 3 cups fresh ripe dates ¾ cups toasted ground walnuts ¾ cup toasted ground almonds 2teaspoon cinnamon powder 1 teaspoon cardamom p...

Dates Candy Balls

3 cups fresh ripe dates

¾ cups toasted ground walnuts

¾ cup toasted ground almonds

2teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon cardamom powder

2/3 cup pure honey

About the image above: dates candy balls

‘Dates recipe has probably been developed since thousand of years. The original recipe was just the ripe dates fruits, honey and spices (cinnamon and cardamom), to be stored as ingredient to produce sweet dish, bread, cake or to be served as paste, just like jam. Recently add with some toasted ground nuts as just like to crumb.’

In food processor, turn the dates into paste with honey, cinnamon powder and cardamom powder. Store it in a clean bowl and keep in the fridge for about 1 hour to chill.

Meanwhile in a clean bowl, combine the toasted ground walnuts and toasted ground almonds.

Use glove on both hands, turn the date paste into balls then roll those balls into the toasted ground nuts mixtures. Better to serve these dates balls while they are cool. Makes about 30-36 pieces.

Helpful Hints

• You may prepare the candy earlier and keep them in your fridge.
• Put more honey if you like them sweeter.
• When you use the sweet dates, may need to put less honey.

Super Chef Diary: Vermicelli Rice - Roz bil Shaghria

Super Chef Diary: Vermicelli Rice - Roz bil Shaghria: 1 cup long grain rice 2/3 cup dry broken vermicelli (ready in a package) ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoon butter ½ cup chopped red oni...

Muhammara - Hot Pepper and Walnut Dip

3pieces red bell pepper

2-4 pieces hot red chilies

1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

¼ cup freshly made white bread crumbs

¼ cup garlic cloves, sliced and sautéed

½ cup red onion, sliced and sautéed

1 ½ tablespoons molasses

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice

2 tablespoons fresh pomegranate juice

2 tablespoon fresh pomegranate fruit for garnish

About the image above: mohamara

Rub the pepper and the chilies with little oil and roast in the oven until it soft and take out from the oven. Allow cooling and peel the skin out as well as take out the the seeds of both chilies and peppers.

Combine the bell peppers, red chilies, toasted walnuts, white bread crumbs, sautéed garlic, sautéed onion, molasses, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lime juice and pomegranate juice. Turn the ingredients into a fine paste. Check the taste.

Chill the paste in the fridge before serving. Serve with bread or accompaniment for Arabic dishes. Makes about 3 cups

Helpful Hint

You can serve the dip as mezzah or accompaniment of Middle East dishes. If you like it hot, you will ne to increase the number of the hot chilies.