Ma’amoul biscuits / cookies have a shortbread–like crust with a date or nutty filling. The first time I had Ma’amoul pastries was from one of my middle-eastern students, delicious, they literally melt in your mouth.
I never dreamt of making them, until I saw them on Indira’s blog; Mahanandi . She has a beautiful step by step recipe, using a special wooden mold, I could not find any so I have just used a fork to make the designs. But I am going to Dubai in December and I am going to hunt one down!! So be prepared for a deluge of ma’amoul cookies.
Ingredients:
Pastry
Pastry
1/2 cup semolina
3/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup melted butter (coolish)
2 tbspn water
1 tblspn orange flower water
For the filling:
250 gm pack of pitted date paste (block); finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup water
2 tspn orange flower water
1 egg; beate
3/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup melted butter (coolish)
2 tbspn water
1 tblspn orange flower water
For the filling:
250 gm pack of pitted date paste (block); finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup water
2 tspn orange flower water
1 egg; beate
Method
- Place the semolina and flour in a bowl, mix with a fork, add the butter, water and orange flower water, mix with the fork until you get soft dough. Cover and leave for 1 hour
- Meanwhile place the dates in a bowl with the water, and microwave for 2 minutes
- Stir; add the nuts, mix and place in the microwave for a further 2 minutes.
- Stir and let it cool.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degree Centigrade or 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Take a lime-size lump of the pastry, pat it down or roll it out, place a heaped teaspn of filling in the centre, close it, by pinching all the sides, flatten it into a patty like shape and place in on a greased oven tray pinched side down.
- Use a fork to press some designs on the pastry.
- Brush each patty with the beaten egg. (I forgot to do it –LOL)
- Bake for 25 minutes.
These keep for 2 months in an air tight container.
20 comments:
I get these ma'amoul cookies from a local store here, and these are one of the few cookies which are natural and mellow. Yours are looking really good. Like you, i too have enjoyed certain delicacies courtesy friends and colleagues from different parts of the world. I love this lil' sharing that goes on in a multicultural setting, trying to find common foodie references and appreciating the new and the different-i just love that!
is that packet of goodies for me, saju? ;)
that is one lovely cookie to try, the filling in itself is YUM!!
lovely cookies stuffing looks very yummyyyyyy
gorgeous. which browser do you use, saju? i use IE and am getting some strange commands in your rcipe before and after the numbers.
cookies look lovely. i wanted to participate in this event so badly.. need to "cook up" something :)
Musical, yes foodie interactions are some much fun, even at this level where we are talking to cyber cooks!
Richa; it is for you! only if you pick it up ;)
Thanks Sagari
Bee, I use Mozilla, but I edit the post in word and copy and past.... I just had a look in IE and see what you mean, I am going to edit now, thanks for leting me know
Nags, I am waiting for your entry
saju, lovely gift! delicious date cookies...
my post is also a gift for the event :D
Those are so plump! I like them. Good one Saju!:))
Cookies look wonderful. I have never had them, maybe i should try to make them as i have dates at home which i still have to do something about it for AFAM.
You should sent to AFAM too, dates is the fruit this month.
Wonderful!!!! These look absolutely delicious!!!
What a surprise. I was convinced biscotti were the ones most suitable as a sweet gift (considering their shelf-life) But 2 months??? Wow, now thats something. I am so making these.
Thank you so much for taking all this time to make em...
I saw these on Indira's blog too. This looks so good Saju. Have bookmarked it to try. WHat is orange flower water though?
lovely date cookies!!!! nice filling....yumm
These look good, I love dates!
The cookies look so delicious! Do we get them in India ? any idea?
Wow they look so very good & easy too.
Thanks everyone for you comments.
Laavanya, orange flower water is distilled from orange blossom and has a lovely aroma see:
http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/orange-flower-water
Ashu, I am not sure you get Ma'amoul in India, but you can make them! You can use rose-water if you can't get Orange flower water.
Interesting to know.
Do you know where to buy Maamoul moulds in Dubai? Thanks.
Sajeda: your Ma'mouls look sooooo good - I wish you were my neighbour, so I can come over & steal one of your scrumptious cookies! Thanks a million for the recipe - I'm sure going to try it.
I still have dates leftover from Ramadhan.
Nazma
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