No Ramadan table in Morocco is complete without chebakia next to a bowl of harira. Fragrant with anise, cinnamon and sesame, they’re folded into flowers, fried and dipped in hot honey.
Recipe: Chebakia (Sesame Honey Flower Cookies)
Prep1 hr
Cook40 min
Total1 hr 40 min
Serves40
LevelHard
Calories~120
Ingredients
- 500 g flour
- 150 g toasted sesame seeds, ground
- 1 tsp anise seeds, ground; 1 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch saffron soaked in 3 tbsp orange blossom water
- 1 egg, 3 tbsp vinegar
- 100 g melted butter, 3 tbsp oil
- ½ tsp yeast, pinch of salt
- Oil for frying
- 1 kg honey + 2 tbsp orange blossom water
- Sesame seeds to sprinkle
Instructions
- Mix all dough ingredients to a firm dough; knead 10 minutes. Rest 15 minutes.
- Roll thin, cut rectangles, make 4 slits, then thread alternate strips through to form a flower.
- Fry in medium-hot oil until deep golden.
- Immediately transfer to warm honey for 5 minutes, drain, and sprinkle with sesame.
Tips for success
- Store chebakia in an airtight tin — they keep for a month.
