Maamoul with Date Filling (Middle Eastern Cookies / Pastries)

          Maamoul is a traditional Middle Eastern style cookies / pastries stuffed with  dates and dry fruits. They are also filled with ground pistachios. It is made of semolina, all purpose flour, melted butter and oil. Cardamom powder and rose water are used for some flavor. They are shaped in particular wooden molds. However, silicone ones can also be used. 

          In case of non-availability of molds, you can make any design with a fork. These Maamouls are particularly very popular during Eid, Easter festivals or as a tea time snack. They are also perfect as gifts for your loved ones. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare these yummy melt in the mouth cookies. 

Dough - 

• 1 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp. oil 
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. corn flour
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar 
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp. rose water
• warm milk, as required, to knead

Filling - 

• 100 gms. soft dates, pitted & chopped
• 2 tbsp. almonds & pistachios, powdered
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp. rose water

          In a mixing bowl, take the semolina, melted butter and oil. Mix well and cover it with a cling film. Refrigerate overnight.

          Then fluff it up with a fork. Add the all purpose four, corn flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, rose water and cardamom powder. Give it a nice mix.

          Add milk, little at a time and knead into a soft dough. Cover and refrigerate for an hour.

          Meanwhile, process the dates and transfer to a plate or bowl. 

          Add the powdered pistachios and almonds, cardamom powder and rose water. Mix well and make small balls out of them.

          Make equal size balls of the semolina dough (double the size of the date balls).

          Meanwhile, line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven at 200 degrees C. for 10 minutes. 

          Take a flour dough ball and make an incision in the centre. Then place a date ball in it and cover all edges. Roll into a ball. Make similar balls out of the remaining dough.

          Take each stuffed ball and press it into a Maamoul mold. Gently remove them. 

          Then arrange them on the baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 200 degrees C. for 20-25 minutes or till they turn slightly brown on the surface

         When done, cool them on a rack and then store in an air-tight container. Enjoy as a tea time snack or gift them on festive occasions like Eid or Easter.

Note - 

In case of non-availability of molds, you can go ahead and make any design with a fork. 

In a mixing bowl, take the semolina, melted butter & oil. Mix well & cover it with a cling film. 

                    Refrigerate overnight. Then fluff it up with a fork.

Add the all purpose four, corn flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, rose water & cardamom powder. Give it a nice mix.

Add milk, little at a time & knead into a soft dough. Cover & refrigerate for an hour.

               Meanwhile, process the dates and transfer to a plate or bowl. 

Add the powdered pistachios & almonds, cardamom powder & rose water.

                  Mix well & make small balls out of them.

Make equal size balls of the semolina dough (double the size of the date balls).

Take a flour dough ball & make an incision in the centre. Then place a date ball in it and cover all edges. Roll into a ball. Make similar balls out of the remaining dough.

 Take each stuffed ball & press it into a Maamoul mold. Gently remove them. 

               Arrange them on the baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees C. for 20-25 minutes or till they turn slightly brown on the surface. Cool them on a rack & then store in an air-tight container.

Enjoy as a tea time snack or gift them on festive occasions like Eid or Easter.

Ice Cream Sandwich

          This easy and simple dessert is an out of the box recipe. All you need is ice cream of any flavor, few crackers and some coloured sugar / candy sprinklers / chopped nuts to make these yummy ice cream sandwiches. This a great party recipe and kids, especially will love them and will be a sure hit during such occasions. 

          These Ice Cream Sandwiches are a great summer treat. I have used some Arabic Pistachio Ice Cream to make this sandwich, but you may play around with any flavours that you prefer. 

          If you are making in a large batch, just increase the quantity of the ingredients as per your preference. And voila, you have these cute looking frozen treats for your loved ones. 

          

• 4 cracker biscuits 
• 1/2 cup ice cream, slightly softened
• 2-3 tbsp. coloured sugar / candy sprinklers / chopped nuts

          Place half of the ice cream on one cracker and top it up with a second to make a sandwich.

          Dip the edges of the sandwich in the sprinklers / sugar / chopped nuts. Make the other sandwich the same way.  

          Relish them right away or you may wrap them in a cling film and freeze until you are ready to enjoy.

Oreo Biscuit Cake

           This is an amazing steamed eggless cake made of Oreo biscuits. A very easy and a simple recipe for unexpected guests. It requires very few ingredients and the garnishing can be done according to individual preference. So do give it a try and surprise your loved ones.

• 1 cup ground Oreo biscuit 
• 1/2 cup milk or as required
• 1 tsp. eno fruit salt
• few cherries to garnish
• chopped nuts to garnish

           Mix the milk to the ground biscuit and make a batter of pouring consistency. Meanwhile, pour some water in a pressure cooker, place a stand and bring it to a boil.

         Just before steaming, add eno fruit salt to the batter and mix well. Pour the batter immediately into a greased cake tin / container. Tap it well.

         Gently place the container over the stand in the cooker and close the lid. Do not put the weight. 

          Steam for 20 minutes on a low flame. When done, switch off the flame and let it cool for a while. Place it on a wire rack and cool it further.

          Then demould it and garnish with cherries and chopped nuts. Enjoy as a tea-time snack or as an after-meal dessert.     

Bourbon Biscuit Cake

           This is an amazing steamed eggless cake made of Bourbon biscuits. A very easy and a simple recipe for unexpected guests. It requires very few ingredients and the garnishing can be done according to individual preference. So do give it a try and surprise your loved ones.

• 1 cup ground Bourbon biscuit 
• 1/2 cup milk or as required
• 1 tsp. eno fruit salt
• few cherries

           Mix the milk to the ground biscuit and make a batter of pouring consistency. Meanwhile, pour some water in a pressure cooker, place a stand and bring it to a boil.

         Just before steaming, add eno fruit salt to the batter and mix well. Pour the batter immediately into a greased cake tin / container. Tap it well.

         Gently place the container over the stand in the cooker and close the lid. Do not put the weight. 

          Steam for 20 minutes on a low flame. When done, switch off the flame and let it cool for a while. Place it on a wire rack and cool it further.

          Then demould it and cut into desired shapes. Garnish with cherries and enjoy as a tea-time snack or when desired.        

Steamed Biscuit Cake

          This is an amazing steamed eggless cake made of biscuits. You can use any of your favourite type - plain or cream biscuits. A very easy and a simple recipe for unexpected guests. It requires very few ingredients and the garnishing can be done according to individual preference. Came across this interesting recipe and so wasted no time in preparing it. Should confess that it turned out absolutely yummy. So do give it a try and you can play the guessing game with your dear ones.

• 1 cup ground cream biscuit (any flavour)
• 1/2 cup milk or as required
• 1 tsp. eno fruit salt
• 1 tbsp. chopped pistachios
• 1 tsp. dried rose petals (opt)

          Mix the milk to the ground biscuit and make a batter of pouring consistency. Meanwhile, pour some water in a pressure cooker, place a stand and bring it to a boil.

         Just before steaming, add eno fruit salt to the batter and mix well. Pour the batter immediately into a greased cake tin / container. Tap it well and sprinkle the chopped pista over it (save some for garnishing).

         Gently place the container over the stand in the cooker and close the lid. Do not put the weight. 

          Steam for 20 minutes on a low flame. When done, switch off the flame and let it cool for a while. Place it on a wire rack and cool it further.

          Then demould it and cut into desired shapes. Garnish with chopped pista and rose petals. Enjoy as a tea-time snack or when desired.          

Tomato Biscuit Soup

          This great combination of Tomato & Biscuit makes for a delicious soup full of flavour. I added some salty whole wheat biscuits and this gave a very smooth, creamy texture to the soup. I usually make Tomato Soup with some oats thrown in to give a body to it. But this time I thought why not with Biscuits. Hence this awesome one-pot meal. Have it as a light dinner with some bread sticks or croutons.
       

• 3 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup salty biscuits / crackers, crumbled
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 3-4 garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder or to taste
• 1 tsp. sambar powder
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• salt to taste
• juice of 1/2 lime or to taste
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• pinch of red chili flakes

          Pressure cook the tomatoes in 3 & 1/2 cups water for 2-3 whistles. When cool, blend and then strain. keep aside.

         Heat oil in a pan and sauté the garlic till they changes color. Add the cumin powder, pepper powder, sambar powder and turmeric powder mixed with 2 tbsp. water.

         Sauté till the oil separates. Add the strained tomato juice, salt and the crumbled biscuits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes. Set aside to cool.

          Blend till smooth. Heat through and add the lime juice. Serve, garnished with coriander leaves and a sprinkle of red chili flakes. Enjoy with some bread sticks or croutons for a light meal anytime of the day.