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Kahi
Kahi (כאהי): Iraqi-Jewish flaky pastry squares with silan for breakfast
IsraeliKahi is what Baghdadi families in Ramat Gan and Or Yehuda make on Shavuot and festival mornings: squares of dough folded with butter into many layers, baked until flaky, then doused with silan (date syrup) or sugar and eaten with tea or a little yogurt. Outside it shatters; inside the layers stay soft and buttery. The common mistake is letting the butter melt into the dough while folding, which leaves you with a flat, bready square. Chef's tip: chill the folded dough for 20 minutes between rolls if your kitchen is warm, and bake in a really hot oven so the layers puff.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the dough
- 14 oz plain flour
- ⅛ oz instant dried yeast
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
For layering
- 5 ½ oz unsalted buttervery soft but not melted
To serve
- 8 tbsp date syrup (silan)
- 2 tbsp icing sugar (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 14 oz plain flour, ⅛ oz instant dried yeast, 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp salt, add 1 cup lukewarm water and 2 tbsp sunflower oil and knead for 8 minutes into a smooth, soft dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
38 minStep 2: Roll the dough on an oiled counter into a 40 x 30 cm rectangle. Spread two thirds of it with a third of 1 ¾ oz unsalted butter, leaving a 1 cm border.
5 minStep 3: Fold the unbuttered third over the middle and the buttered third over that, like a letter. Turn 90°, roll out again and repeat twice more with the rest of 3 ½ oz unsalted butter. Chill for 20 minutes if the butter starts to seep.
25 minStep 4: Heat the oven to 425°F. Roll the dough 1 cm thick and cut into 8 squares. Place on a lined tray with space between them and leave for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 5: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until puffed, deep golden and crisp on the bottom.
25 minStep 6: Serve warm, drizzled with 8 tbsp date syrup (silan) or dusted with 2 tbsp icing sugar.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kahi take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 35 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 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 plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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