Coconut Basbousa Recipes

COCONUT BASBOUSA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Mix all cake batter the ingredients in a stand mixer bowl on slow speed until well combined.
• Brush a non stick 9 x 13 x 3 inch pan with tahini paste (both bottom and sides). Pour in the batter and spread the dough out with a spatula or your palm to even is out. Cover and let the batter rest for 1hr to absorb all the moisture.
• Cut out the Basbousa into whatever shape you want. Squares and Diamonds are best. Place a piece of half an almond on top of each piece.
• Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes until golden brown in color. You can turn on the top broiler for a couple of minutes before removing it from the oven to add a more deeper brown color to the top if needed. Watch closely if you do that.
• Right when you remove from the cake from the oven, evenly pour out the sugar syrup onto the cake. I like using a squeezable dispenser bottle to do that.
• Let the cake completely cool at room temperature before cutting through to get a perfect cut. Sprinkle some shredded coconut on the Basbousa before serving.

BASBOOSA II

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square baking dish.
• In a large bowl, mix together the semolina flour, baking powder, 1 cup sugar, coconut and butter. Add the yogurt and milk; mix until moistened but not runny or liquid. If you see that it is too dry, add more milk. Spread into a greased 8 inch square baking dish, smoothing the top as much as possible. Decorate the top with whole almonds.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. While the basboosa is baking, combine the water, 1 cup of sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, and cook for at least 5 minutes.
• When the basboosa has finished baking, pour the syrup over it as evenly as possible. Place it back in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until the syrup has been fully absorbed. Let rest for about 20 minutes before cutting into pieces and serving.

COCONUT HALVA (BASBOUSA)

Steps:

• Prepare the simple syrup first by placing the sugar, water, and lemon juice into a pan, stirring to mix and bring to boil. Simmer for about 6-8 minutes until the syrup has thickened just a little. Stir in rosewater if using. Allow syrup to cool then chill.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan melt the butter. Add the sugar, flour, semolina, coconut, milk, baking powder and almond extract, mix thoroughly. Do not allow to burn.
• Pour the mixture into a buttered 8" square baking pan, flatten the top and bake in oven for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden.
• Remove halva from oven and cut diagonally so that you have diamond shaped portions. Prick the cake all over using a toothpick. Pour the chilled simple syrup evenly over the top and decorate with a whole almond on each diamond shaped piece. Serve hot or at room temperature.