Ma’amoul are small shortbread pastries filled with dates, orange “my mom’s creation”, walnuts, pistachios, or occasionally cheese, loukoum or other fillings. They can be decorated by hand or in special wooden molds. They are very popular in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and other Levantine countries. The smell of freshly baked Ma’amoul spreading throughout the place is an Eid ritual. Many of you have asked me about Ma’amoul recipe, so here it is.
Let’s make Ma’amoul:
Mahia is one of the sweets prepared for Nisf Sha’aban, it is a speciality of Hama. In Hama, people usually buy it and don’t bother making it at home. I asked for the recipe and it actually took few attempts until I got a result almost similar to Mahia Sold in Hama. Although the ingredients are simple (sugar, water, semolina, rose water), the process of making mahia requires patience and practice.
Let’s make Mahia:
Ka’ek Al-Eid Al-Maleh is a specialty of Aleppo, salty ring cookies seasoned with “mahlab, anise, fennel, and cumin”. This Ka’ek is my favorite, the smell and the taste of it always bring me back to all the beautiful moments in Aleppo. Try it and you will be addicted to it.
Let’s make Ka’ek Al-Eid Al-Maleh:
Ma’arouk Ramadan (Ma’arouk Halab / Ma’arouk Halabi) is a sweet bread specially prepared for the Holy Month of Ramadan and it is a specialty of Aleppo, but it is also popular in other cities in Syria. The bread is flavored with mahlab, fennel, anise, and cumin. The surface is brushed with grape molasses, topped with sesame seeds and nigella seeds.
Let’s make Ma’arouk Ramadan:
Nammourah Esfanjiyeh has another name which is Nammourah Espaniyeh. It is sponge cake, prepared from (all purpose flour, semolina flour, desiccated coconut, baking powder, eggs, sugar, milk, ghee, vanilla), then sugar syrup is poured to baked nammourah.
Let’s make Nammourah Esfanjiyeh:
