Basbousa - Middle Eastern Dessert

Original Recipe from here but quantities slightly modified as below

Sugar Syrup Ingredients

1. 3 cup sugar
2. 3 cup water
3. 1 tablespoon clarified butter
4. 2 talbespoons lemon juice

Sugar Syrup Procedure (Put lot of syrup for the semia to stay firm-- VERY IMPORTANT)

1. Put ingredients for sugar syrup into a pot and bring to a boil.
2. Add 1 tablespoon clarified butter.
3. Simmer for about 15 minutes and cool.

Basboussa Ingredients
2 cups rava
1 cup sugar
1 cup coconut flakes
1 cup clarified butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup slivered almonds, or 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
2 teaspoons baking powder

Basboussa Procedure
1. Mix the sugar, coconut and rava, then, add the baking powder.
2. Put the milk and butter in a pot and bring to a boil.
3. Add the rava mixture to the milk and butter, plus remaining ingredients and mix well.
4. Coat a baking tray with butter.
5. Pour into a baking tray 1/2 inch high and distribute evenly.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes until golden-yellow.
7. Remove from the oven and distribute slivered almonds or chopped hazelnuts over the top of the backed Basboussa. Press the nuts gently with your finger.
8. Leave the Basboussa to cool for 1 hour.
9. Soak with the cold sugar syrup.
10. Bake at 200 degrees for 5 minutes until golden-yellow.
11. Cut into pieces and serve warm or cold. Enjoy.


Wonderful dessert.