Basbousa Recipe (Middle Eastern Coconut Semolina Cake)
Basbousa (Basboosa) is a Middle Eastern dessert that is basically sweet semolina and coconut cake. It is also called revani or namoura in some parts. Here is how to make it at home.
Servings: 15 people
Ingredients
For The Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
For The Cake
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup melted unsalted butter
- ½ cup any neutral-flavored oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup desiccated coconut
- 1 and ½ cups fine semolina
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 10-12 blanched almonds halved
Instructions
Make The Sugar Syrup
- Add sugar and water to a saucepan.
- Cook over high heat until sugar is dissolved, stirring a few times.
- Once the sugar is dissolved, reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and mix well.
- Remove the pan from heat and keep aside.
Make The Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃). Line a 9×11-inch baking tray with parchment paper.
- Add eggs and sugar to a large mixing bowl and whisk well using an electric hand blender or a wire whisk.
- Add yogurt and whisk until combined.
- Now add melted butter and oil and whisk well.
- Add vanilla extract, baking powder, all-purpose flour, desiccated coconut, semolina, and orange zest.
- Mix everything well.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tray and spread it evenly using a silicon spatula.
- Using a sharp knife, make diamond-shaped marks on the batter.
- Arrange almond halves over the cake.
- Keep the tray in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the tray from the oven.
- Run a sharp knife over the marks once again.
- Pour sugar syrup over the warm cake and let the cake cool down completely (at least an hour). Take out the diamond-shaped pieces and serve.
Video
Notes
To make an eggless version of basbousa, skip the eggs and replace them with ¼ cup of yogurt.
Nutrition
Calories: 247kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 229IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
