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Mbesses (Kabyle semolina cake)
Mbesses: Kabylie's crumbly, buttery semolina cake baked in a flat tray and cut into diamonds
AlgerianSomewhere between shortbread and cornbread, mbesses is the plain cake of Kabyle kitchens, a shallow tray of semolina rich with melted butter, lightly sweetened and baked until golden on top. The texture is sandy and tender, breaking into crumbs that taste of toasted grain and butter, with a hint of orange blossom. It is cut into diamonds and served with milky coffee in the afternoon, or offered to guests who drop by during Ramadan evenings. Some households scatter sesame or nigella seeds over the top before baking. Chef's tip: spread the mixture into the tray with a light hand; pressing it down hard is the most common mistake and gives a dense, heavy cake.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb fine semolina
- 5 ½ oz unsalted buttermelted and cooled slightly, plus a little for the tin
- 4 oz caster sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup milkat room temperature
- 1 tbsp orange-blossom water
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (fan 325°F) and butter a 30 × 20 cm baking tin.
Step 2: Mix 1 ⅛ lb fine semolina, 4 oz caster sugar, 2 tsp baking powder and 1 pinch salt in a large bowl.
Step 3: Pour in 5 ½ oz unsalted butter and rub it into the dry mix with your palms for 2 to 3 minutes, until the semolina is evenly yellow and clumps when squeezed.
3 minStep 4: Add 1 cup milk and 1 tbsp orange-blossom water and stir with a fork just until you have a soft, damp mixture with no dry patches. Leave for 5 minutes so the semolina swells.
5 minStep 5: Tip into the tin and spread it level with the back of a spoon, without packing it down. Score into diamonds with a knife and scatter over 1 tbsp sesame seeds if using.
Step 6: Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden on top and a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean.
35 minStep 7: Cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then cut along the scored lines and lift out the pieces. Keep in a tin for up to 3 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mbesses (Kabyle semolina cake) take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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