Ma'amoul

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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

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

Method

1. 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
2. Meanwhile place the dates in a bowl with the water, and microwave for 2 minutes
3. Stir; add the nuts, mix and place in the microwave for a further 2 minutes.
4. Stir and let it cool.
5. Preheat the oven to 180 degree Centigrade or 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. 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.
7. Use a fork to press some designs on the pastry.
8. Brush each patty with the beaten egg. (I forgot to do it –LOL)
9. Bake for 25 minutes.

These keep for 2 months in an air tight container.