Basboosa Recipe
Description: Basboosa are thin semolina squares covered in a honey and lemon syrup, a quintessential Middle Eastern treat that pairs perfectly with a cup of sweet Turkish coffee or refreshing mint tea.
Recipe Category: Bar Cookie
Keywords: Dessert, Cookie & Brownie, Lemon, Citrus, Fruit, Southwest Asia (Middle East), African, Asian, Low Cholesterol, Kosher, Sweet, Weeknight, For Large Groups, Oven, Less than 4 Hours
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 281.3
- Fat Content: 9.7g
- Saturated Fat Content: 1.4g
- Cholesterol Content: 1.4mg
- Sodium Content: 28.6mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 45.9g
- Fiber Content: 1.2g
- Sugar Content: 25.7g
- Protein Content: 3.6g
Servings: 24 squares
Cooking Time:
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 2 cups | Sugar |
| 2 cups | Water |
| 1 | Lemon |
| 3/4 cup | Honey |
| 3 cups | Semolina |
| 1 cup | Flour |
| 1 1/2 tsp | Baking Powder |
| 1 cup | Vegetable Oil |
| 1 cup | Milk |
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Syrup:
- Peel the lemon using a potato peeler to obtain flat strips of peel.
- Juice the lemon.
- In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil.
- Add the lemon rind to the boiling mixture.
- Boil until the lemon rind becomes hard or the mixture achieves a runny syrup consistency.
- Stir in the honey and set aside while preparing the basboosa.
-
Make the Basboosa Batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine semolina, flour, sugar, and baking powder.
- Gradually add the vegetable oil to the dry ingredients and mix until a well-blended batter forms.
-
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a large cookie sheet tray (approximately 10 x 16 inches) with oil.
-
Prepare the Basboosa Mixture:
- Just before baking, pour in the milk and mix it into the batter until fully incorporated.
- Spoon the batter onto the greased tray, distributing it evenly.
-
Bake the Basboosa:
- Bake the basboosa in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
-
Cut and Return to the Oven:
- After 30 minutes, remove the tray from the oven and cut the basboosa into squares.
- Return the tray to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown.
-
Syrup the Basboosa:
- Once fully baked, immediately pour the prepared syrup over the hot basboosa squares, ensuring even coverage.
-
Serve and Enjoy:
- Allow the basboosa to cool slightly before serving.
- Enjoy these delicious Middle Eastern treats with a hot cup of Turkish coffee or fragrant mint tea.
Indulge in the delightful flavors of these Basboosa squares, characterized by their moist texture and sweet citrus syrup, perfect for satisfying your dessert cravings or impressing guests at any gathering.
