Egyptian Delights   Episode 3 of 3

Egyptian Delights         2016-2017

Egyptian Delights 11：

Egyptian Rawani cake 

Rawani cake is very popular in Egypt such that nearly every cake shop sells it. This cake uses semolina, eggs, vanilla and sugar to bake. It is sprinkled on the top with rose and lemon syrup, and shredded coconut. It is tasty, fragrant and colourful. 

This cake is also popular in Greece, and is called Ravani cake. Butter and shredded coconut are added. However, Egyptian Rawani does not contain butter and shredded coconut.

Egyptian Delights 12：

Zabadee el Mishmish 

Apricot Mousse

Zabadee el Mishmish is whisking apricot pulp, cottage cheese, yogurt and honey. Very yummy.

Egyptian Delights 13：

Kahk 

In Arabian language, 'Kahk" means cookies or biscuits. Kahk will be prepared in Eid al-Fitr, Christmas or marry off a daughter. Inside the cookie is Agameya （honey），walnuts, pistachio, lokoumi or empty. Icing sugar is sprinkled on top.

Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic festival. It starts when Ramadan is finished. It is also New Year for Muslim countries.

Egyptian Delights 14：

Bassima

When you see Bassima, you will think that it is Egyptian Delight 7 Basbousa. Although they both originated from Egypt, the soul of Basbousa is semolina while that of Bassima is coconut. Bassima merely uses all purpose flour; much coconut; soaked in syrup and decorated with nuts.

Egyptian Delights 15：

Egyptian Goulash  

Egyptian Filo Meat Pie

Goulash is a traditional dish of Egypt. It is fragrant and crispy. It was originated in Egypt and spread to Mediterranean district. The outer layer is filo dough. The filling usually is minced beef, sometimes, it can be white cheese either Gebna bēḍa or Domyaṭi , mint, spinach, or mix of spinach and minced beef. It is the predecessor of beef pie. Very  delicious and one cannot stop eating!

Egyptian Delights 16：：

Egyptian Torte  

Torte means cake. Egyptian Torte has 3 layers, each layer is biscuit, custard, fresh cream, caramel and hazelnuts. Filling is crispy. It is fragrant and delicious.

Next， Year of the Dragon Delights 2024

Publisher： Chef Kar Delight

 

Basbousa is a traditional sweet cake of Egypt. Basbousa means "just a kiss". It can be served all year round, especially in Shem el Nessim. It is made of semolina or farina, soaked in syrup. Often, it is sprinkled with shredded coconut and nuts. If it is soaked in condensed milk, it will be called Sticky Basbousa Pudding.

Egyptian Delights    Episode 2 of 3

Egyptian Delights         2016-2017

Egyptian Delights 6：

Aish Baladi

Aish Baladi is a handmade bread of Egypt. Whole wheat flour and yeast are used to attain fermentation then kneaded to dough. The dough is made to disk shape and baked in oven to become inflated like a balloon. The center of the bread is hallow and outer skin is thin. When it is cut half way, it becomes 2 bags. You can put any fillings inside. 

In Egyptian language, Aish means life and Baladi means traditional. It is usually paired with Baba Ghannoug, Egyptian eggplants and sesame paste tahini.

Egyptian Delights 7：

Basbousa

Basbousa is a traditional sweet cake of Egypt. Basbousa means "just a kiss". It can be served all year round, especially in Shem el Nessim.  It is made of semolina or farina, soaked in syrup. Often, it is sprinkled with shredded coconut and nuts. 

If it is soaked in condensed milk, it will be called Sticky Basbousa Pudding. 

Egyptian Delights 8:

Asabi Gullash

Asabi is plural while Isba is singular in Egyptian language meaning finger. Gullash in Egyptian language means thin dough skin. Obviously, Asabi Gullash is the ancestor of egg roll or spring roll. But it contains no egg and  is not a dough with egg to make thin skin. It is not deep fried but baking.

Asabi Gullash has savory and sweet tastes:

Sweet fillings: Middle Eastern dates, raisins, walnuts, almonds, shredded coconut

Savory fillings: minced beef, onions, garlic, parsley, cumin, nutmeg and black pepper

Egyptian Delights 9:

Mahalabiya 

Mahalabiya is milk custard also called blancmange or milk pudding. On the top,  crushed pistachio, mango and shredded coconut are put to make it more delicious.

Egyptian Delights 10:

Ghorayebah 

Ghorayebah is a traditional cookie of Egypt. Due to its shape like a bracelet, and an almond on the surface looks like a precious stone, it is also called Queen's Bracelets. It is over several thousand years of history. It will be served at Eid-ul-Fitr. It is very delicious and melts in your mouth.

Next,  Egyptian Delights   Episode 3 of 3

Coming soon: Year of the Dragon Delights 2024

Publisher： Chef Kar Delight

 

Egyptian Delights Episode 1 of 3Egyptian Delights 2016-2017Egyptian Traditional DessertsThe world four ancient civilizations are Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus valley （India）, and China as they provided the basis for continuous cultural development in the same geographic location.The earliest discovery of desserts originated from Egypt. Over 5 thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians prepared desserts for tributes. In 12 century, the walls of the tomb of Ramesses III exhibited paintings of baking desserts in shapes of circles, triangles, flowers or animals. Until 7-8 Century BC, Greece had steamed desserts with raisins wrapped in fig leaves . This is considered to be the origin of raisin pudding. Besides, desserts made of honey, cakes made of vegetable oil or deep fried desserts appeared.What desserts did Pharaoh and Cleopatra enjoy most? I will show them to you one by one.There are total of 3 episodes. Let you slowly digest them.Egyptian Delight 1:Umm Ali bread puddingOm Ali, Omali, Umm Ali, or Oumm Ali meaning "Mother of Ali", is a traditional Egyptian dessert, and is a national dessert of Egypt. There are numerous variations with different composition. The dish, which is traced back to as far as Medieval Egypt, it is named after the wife of the Sultan of Egypt, who, according to folklore, asked all Egypt's cooks and women to compete and come up with the most delicious dessert that they could create as a form of celebration. The chosen recipe was later distributed throughout the country to celebrate, and it is a national dish of Egypt and a traditional Egyptian dessert till this day. It is commonly eaten during Ramadan as part of the iftar or sunset feast.The Egyptian dessert is said to have originated as a celebration of the death of Shajar al-Durr, who had been married to Egypt's final Sultan from the Ayyubid dynasty, As-Salih, and subsequently to the first of Egypt's Mamluk Sultans, Izz al-Din Aybak. Shajar al-Durr plotted the murder of Aybak, after which she became ruler of Egypt. Ultimately, she was herself killed in retribution, whereafter Aybak's first wife, who was known as Om Ali, asked to have a dessert prepared in celebration. The dessert was popularised throughout the country, and was named after Om Ali. Every bread pudding was distributed to citizens with a gold coin.Typically, pastry (bread, pastry or puff pastry) is divided into pieces and blended with pistachios, coconut flakes, raisins and plenty of sugar. Milk, sometimes with cream, is poured over the mixture, which is then sprinkled with cinnamon. Finally, the mixture is baked in the oven until the surface is golden brown.It may be eaten hot or cold.Since there is no egg, Umm Ali cannot be called cake, can only be called bread pudding. It tastes like English fruitcake. Umm Ali has shredded coconut but English fruitcake does not have. The latter contains rum, brandy or whisky, the former does not have alcohol. Therefore, their colours are different.

 

Egyptian Delights    Episode 1 of 3

Egyptian Delights   2016-2017

Egyptian Traditional Desserts

The world four ancient civilizations are Egypt, Mesopotamia,  the Indus valley （India）, and China as they provided the basis for continuous cultural development in the same geographic location.

The earliest discovery of desserts originated from Egypt. Over 5 thousand years ago, the ancient Egyptians prepared desserts for tributes. In 12 century, the walls of the tomb of Ramesses III exhibited paintings of baking desserts in shapes of circles, triangles, flowers or animals. Until 7-8 Century BC, Greece had steamed desserts with raisins wrapped in fig leaves . This is considered to be the origin of raisin pudding.  Besides, desserts made of honey, cakes made of vegetable oil or deep fried desserts appeared.

What desserts did Pharaoh and Cleopatra enjoy most? I will show them to you one by one.

There are total of 3 episodes. Let you slowly digest them.

Egyptian Delight 1:

Umm Ali bread pudding

Om Ali, Omali, Umm Ali, or Oumm Ali meaning "Mother of Ali", is a traditional Egyptian dessert, and is a national dessert of Egypt. There are numerous variations with different composition. The dish, which is traced back to as far as Medieval Egypt, it is named after the wife of the Sultan of Egypt, who, according to folklore, asked all Egypt's cooks and women to compete and come up with the most delicious dessert that they could create as a form of celebration. The chosen recipe was later distributed throughout the country to celebrate, and it is a national dish of Egypt and a traditional Egyptian dessert till this day. It is commonly eaten during Ramadan as part of the iftar or sunset feast.

The Egyptian dessert is said to have originated as a celebration of the death of Shajar al-Durr, who had been married to Egypt's final Sultan from the Ayyubid dynasty, As-Salih, and subsequently to the first of Egypt's Mamluk Sultans, Izz al-Din Aybak. Shajar al-Durr plotted the murder of Aybak, after which she became ruler of Egypt. Ultimately, she was herself killed in retribution, whereafter Aybak's first wife, who was known as Om Ali, asked to have a dessert prepared in celebration. The dessert was popularised throughout the country, and was named after Om Ali. Every bread pudding was distributed to citizens with a gold coin.

Typically, pastry (bread, pastry or puff pastry) is divided into pieces and blended with pistachios, coconut flakes, raisins and plenty of sugar. Milk, sometimes with cream, is poured over the mixture, which is then sprinkled with cinnamon. Finally, the mixture is baked in the oven until the surface is golden brown.
It may be eaten hot or cold.

Since there is no egg, Umm Ali cannot be called cake, can only be called bread pudding. It tastes like English fruitcake. Umm Ali has shredded coconut but English fruitcake does not have. The latter contains rum, brandy or whisky, the former does not have alcohol. Therefore, their colours are different.

Egyptian Delight 2:

Zalabia 

Zalabia is Egyptian specific name. In the middle east such as Lebanon, it is called "Lokmat el Kadi" or "Al awama". It is popular in Egypt and Middle East region. Main ingredients are dough fried in oil. It is served with rose and lemon syrup, sprinkled with shredded coconut and sesame. It is fragrant and crispy. It tastes like Greek Loukoumades which are hollow inside, crispy outside. Sprinkle with honey and sesame to eat. It is a very popular traditional Greek dessert.  It is believed  that it was originated from Zalabia.

Egyptian Delight 3:

Fateer meshaltet

Feteer meshaltet, literally "cushioned pies" or "cushion-like pies", often simply referred to as meshaltel , is a flaky Egyptian layered pastry. It consists of many thin layers of dough and ghee and an optional filling. The fillings can be both sweet or savory. Sweet fillings may include cheese, coconut, mehalabiya, malban, Nutella or chocolate, while savory fillings can be anything from ground beef to sausage or cheese. Plain meshaltet is usually soaked in honey and spread with jam or cheese or served with olives. Because of its versatility, meshaltet is often referred to as an Egyptian pizza.

Feteer meshaltet has become an important symbol of hospitality in Egypt. Egyptian families traditionally give it as gifts to visitors and friends. It is also commonly prepared for holidays, weddings, an

Feteer meshaltet dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was known as "feteer maltoot". It was left at temples as an offering to the gods.

Fateer was spread to Europe and became new moon shaped French croissant. Fateer uses ghee but French croissant uses butter.

Egyptian Delight 4:

Roz Bi Laban

Roz Bi Laban is a traditional dessert in the desert, traced back to Cairo period. In Egyptian language, Roz means rice, and Laban means milk. This dessert is easy to prepare and very delicious. If middle eastern dates, pine nuts and walnuts are put on top of rice pudding, it will become more yummy. It can be served cold or hot.

Egyptian Delight 5:

Qara Asali

Qara Asali is different from western pumpkin pie that it does not have any element of pie. This time, I used raisins, pine nuts and almonds as fillings. Top was Sweet Béchamel sauce ( a mixture of milk, flour and sugar); middle was raisins, pine nuts and almonds; bottom was pumpkin. It can be served cold or hot; but cold taste better. Cream can be added and pistachio can be used as garnish.

Next,  Egyptian Delights   Episode 2 of 3

Coming soon: Year of the Dragon Delights 2024

Publisher： Chef Kar Delight