Tunisian · Desserts

Makroudh

Semolina diamonds filled with a date paste scented with orange and cinnamon, fried and dipped in honey. Kairouan makes the ones people travel for.

1 hr 5 min prep and cooking plus 20 min standing 1 hr 25 min start to finish Serves 12 servings Medium
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Makroudh

Photograph credit: Makroudh - مقروض - Makroud photo1 by Sami Mlouhi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · this resized copy is shared under the same licence

How to Make Makroudh

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  1. Rub the olive oil into the semolina, salt and cinnamon with your fingers until it looks like damp sand. Leave 20 minutes for the grains to absorb it.

  2. Add the water and orange blossom water and bring together into a firm dough. Do not knead it — work it just enough to hold.

  3. Blitz the dates with the 2 tbsp oil, cinnamon, cloves, orange zest and orange blossom water to a smooth, stiff paste.

  4. Roll a third of the dough into a long strip about 8 cm wide. Lay a rope of date paste down the centre and fold the dough over it, sealing the seam underneath.

  5. Flatten gently and cut on the diagonal into 4 cm diamonds. Repeat with the rest.

  6. Heat the frying oil to 170°C / 340°F and fry the diamonds in batches, 4 minutes, turning, until pale gold. Drain briefly.

  7. Warm the honey in a wide pan and drop the hot pastries in for 40 seconds, turning. Lift onto a rack and scatter with sesame seeds.

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Tips for Making Makroudh

  • Oil into the semolina first, and let it stand. That is the crumb.
  • Barely work the dough — kneading makes it tough.
  • Hot pastries into warm honey, both hot.

What to Serve with Makroudh

  • Mint tea with pine nuts
  • Turkish coffee
  • Fresh dates

Storing & Reheating Makroudh

An airtight tin for 2 weeks; the crumb softens slightly and the flavour improves. They freeze for 3 months.

Makroudh FAQ: Common Questions

How long does Makroudh take to make?

40 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking, plus 20 minutes of standing, so allow 1 hour 25 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 12.

Makroudh Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. How the figures are worked out.

987Calories
7gProtein
80gCarbs
71gFat
5gFibre
46gSugar
100mgSodium

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Compiled by Turab

Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked. Found a mistake? Tell us.

First published ; last changed .