Basbousa Recipe | Middle Eastern Sweet semolina Cake

Hi my readers Today I am going to share a simple sweet recipe called Basbousa (Sweet semolina cake)

Basbousa is a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cake that is originated in Egypt. It is made from a semolina batter and sweetened with lemon extract or rose water simple syrup. The semolina cake is featured in Middle Eastern cuisines, Greek cuisine, Azerbaijani cuisine, Israeli cuisine, and many others.

In the Middle East though there are three options and all are called semolina. Do not use fine semolina for making this Basbousa because you won't get the texture of actual Basbousa.

Ingredients we need:

For sugar syrup:

1. Sugar-1 Cup.
2. Water-1 Cup.
3. Lemon juice-1 Teaspoon.
4. Rose water-1 tablespoon.

For the cake:

1. Almonds- 1/4 Cup. for decoration.
2. Coarse Semolina-1 1/2 Cup.
3. Sugar-1/2 Cup.
4. Melted butter-1/2 cup.
5. Curd/yohurt- 1 Cup.
6. Desiccated Coconut-1/2 Cup.
7. All-purpose flour-1/2 cup.
8. Baking powder-1 Teaspoon.
9. Salt- A pinch.
10. Water as needed.

Method of preparation :

1. In a small pan add about 3/4 cup of water and let it boil. Add 1/4 Cup of almonds and boil for 1 minute. 
2. Do not allow to boil more than a minute. Drain the water and let it cool down to room temperature.
3. Gently squeeze the almonds to peel of the skin. Discard the skins and keep the almonds aside for garnishing.

Preparing Sugar syrup:

1. Take a saucepan and add a cup of sugar and a cup of water. Mix well and let the water boil.
2. Once the water get boiled add lemon juice and rose water. Continue boiling until it reaches a syrupy consistency. 
3. Turn off the heat, let it cool down and keep this aside.

Preparing the Cake:

1. In a large bowl take 2 eggs at room temperature, Sugar, Vanilla essence, melted butter, Curd, and mix well until combined.
2. To this add coarse semolina, desiccated coconut, and mix this well. Sift the flour , baking powder, and salt together and add this to the cake mixture.
3. Preheat the oven at 200 degrees celsius.
4. Grease two pans (9*7 inch ) with butter or ghee.
5. Transfer the batter and spread evenly. Spread nuts on top evenly to decorate.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius.
7. Cut them in squares or diamonds. Pour the cooled sugar syrup to hot basbousa.
8. Allow the cake to absorb all the syrup. Enjoy...