Chebakia(Mkharka)Moroccan Sesame Cookies with Honey

Ingredients

 

1 pound of flour

4 oz of blanched almonds

4 oz of sesame seeds

1 teaspoon of dry yeast

1 teaspoon of baking powder

Large pinch of saffron

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder

1/2 tablespoon of ground anise seeds

Orange blossom water

1/2 cup of olive oil

1/2 cup of melted butter

1 tablespoon of vinegar

1 egg yolk

Oil for frying

Honey

Roasted sesame seeds

Directions

Steps for making the dough:

1- On medium heat, roast the almonds and sesame seeds in a pan until they become golden.

2- Grind them in the food processor until you get a powdery texture.

3- Mix together the flour, almonds/sesame powder, baking powder, salt, cinnamon powder, and ground anise seeds.

4- Dilute the dry yeast and the saffron in some water.

5- Add the yeast, saffron, olive oil, butter, vinegar, and egg yolk to the flour mixture. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated.

6- Add the orange blossom water little by little while kneading the dough. Knead the dough energetically for 15 minutes until you get a smooth and malleable dough.

7- Cut the dough into 4 equal portions and roll them into balls. Cover them with a clean cloth and let the dough rest for 15 minutes.

Steps for shaping the Chebakia:

1- Roll the dough into a very thin layer using a baking pin.

2- To shape the chebakia, you could use a mold or a roller. Please refer to the video for instructions.

Steps for cooking the Chebakia:

1- Heat the oil.

2- Warm the honey. You can flavor the honey with orange blossom water or mastic gum.

3- When the oil is hot, fry the chebakia from both sides until it becomes golden brown. The chebakia should be a little crispy. If you bite on it, it should not be 'doughy' - if so, it means that it did not cook thoroughly.

4- Once the chebakia is fried, transfer it immediately in the honey.

5- Remove the chebakia from the honey and sprinkle it with roasted sesame seeds