Rose Water Basbousa

A dense and moist semolina cake soaked in rose water syrup. The crust should be golden brown and the semolina grains meltingly tender.

• Prep time: 20 min
• Cook time: 50 min
• Difficulty: Easy
• Calories: 718
• Protein: 11 g
• Carbs: 108 g
• Fat: 25 g

Ingredients

• 250 g Durum wheat semolina ( medium )
• 250 g White sugar ( divided between batter and syrup )
• 75 g Minimum butter sweet ( melted )
• 100 g Plain Greek yogurt ( at room temperature )
• 5 g Baking powder
• 10 piece Almond with skin ( whole )
• 150 ml Mineral water
• 0.5 piece Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. ( juice only )
• 1 tbsp rose water
• 0.5 tbsp Orange blossom water

Instructions

1. Syrup preparation

   In a saucepan, combine 300g of white sugar with 300ml of mineral water and the lemon juice. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes until the liquid coats the spoon. Add the rose water and orange blossom water off the heat and let cool completely.

2. Making the batter

   Mix the semolina, 200g of sugar, and the baking powder. Pour in the melted butter and rub between your hands to coat each grain. Stir in the Greek yogurt to obtain a thick and homogeneous dough.

3. Resting and marking

   Spread the dough 2 cm thick in a buttered dish. Smooth the surface. Using a knife, trace diamond shapes and press an almond into the center of each piece. Let rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.

4. Baking

   Bake at 180°C for 35 to 40 minutes. The cake is ready when it slightly pulls away from the edges and the surface is uniformly brown and crispy.

5. Soaking

   Remove the cake and immediately pour the cold syrup over the hot dough. You should hear a sizzling sound. Let the cake absorb all the liquid and cool completely before serving.

Chef's tips

• Always pour cold syrup over the piping hot cake to create a thermal shock and maximize absorption.
• Do not overmix the batter after adding the yogurt to maintain a properly grainy texture.

Storage

Stores for 5 days at room temperature in an airtight container. The cake is even better the next day.