Makrout (semolina cookies with dates)



Makrouts with dates

Makrout with dates

Makrouts are small semolina cookies from Algeria and most of North Africa. They are very popular during festivities, eids and other special occasions. They can be made with either dates or almonds, sometimes covered with sugar but always shaped as a diamond.

Here is the traditional recipe for fried makrouts with dates.

Prep Time: 1 hour

Total time: 2 hours

Yield: 30 cookies

Ingredients

• Semolina (fine) - 2 cups
• Flour - 1/4 cup
• Salt - 1/8 tsp
• Butter (melted) - 2/3 cup
• Orange flower water - 1/2 cup
• Dates (paste) - 1 lbs
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Honey - 2 cups

Directions

1. Oil the semolina, then blend it with the flour and salt. Add the melted butter and use your hands to mix the paste to ensure that the butter penetrates the semolina grains.
2. Gradually add the orange flower water to the dough. Mix the semolina with your fingers the ball of dough holds shape. set aside for an hour for resting the dough.
3. To shape the cookies, oil your hands and divide the dough into four portions. Shape each portion into a thin log. Make an indentation in each log lengthwise. Shape the dates paste into a smilar long thin log and insert it in the indentation in the dough. Cover the dates paste with dough by pinching it gently, then roll it back and forth smooth it. The dates paste should no longer be visible.
4. Flatten the resulting roll with your hands and score the top with a knife to decorate it.
5. Slice the log with diagonal cuts into 1" wide pieces. Once all the dough has been used, leave the makrouts to rest, uncovered, for about 30 minutes before cooking.
6. Warm the vegetable oil in a deep skillet o medium heat. Warm the honey in a small pot, add a1 tbs of orange flower water and remove from the heat.
7. Fry the makrouts in batches in the skillet until golden. Transfer them into the pot of warm honey, and then strain them over a large bowl to remove the excess honey. Keep them there for a few minutes then transfer to cooling sheet.