Mamoul is a popular Middle eastern date filled Semolina cookie, something I have grown up eating from my childhood at Lebanese sweet stalls in Kuwait. And from past few years it's the home made version that has caught up popularity. In the Middle east this delicacy is particularly a part of religious festivities. Be it Ramadan , Eid -Al Adha or Eid -Al Fitr you will find its inviting aroma linger round the streets. Loved by kids and grown ups alike, plus healthy with those nutritious fillings. It's a tea time favorite with my parents and in-laws.
So here is the recipe. Not as complicated as it looks. Can be made by hand, in small tart tins or with the help of traditional wooden or plastic mamoul moulds. I used this Plastic mamoul mould.
Here a Pictorial guide.
1. Blend the dates with the spices, oil and orange blossom water. Make 30 balls and keep aside.
2. In a bowl add the yeast and water, allow it to stand for few mins or until it froths.
3. Mix together Semolina, Ghee(clarified butter), all purpose flour, sugar and salt.
4. Add water, milk and yeast and mix until a dough is formed.
5. Allow dough to rest for 10 mins.
6. Take lime sized ball of the dough. Pat it into a small circular disc.
7. At this point if you do not have a traditional mamoul mould, you can place the date ball in the centre of the dough disc and wrap it up with the rest of the dough, to make a ball. Slightly press to flatten it to a cookie shape. Ready to bake.
8. If you have the mamoul mould place the circular disc on the mould, press it in, so that it take the shape of the mould.
9. Place a date ball in the cavity, and wrap it with the excess dough around it.
10. Press gently to flatten the surface.
10. Tap the mould until the dough releases.
11. Preheat oven. Place on baking tray. 
Number of cookies may vary according to size of mould. My approx, 2 inch diameter mould yielded upto 30 cookies.
12. Bake for 15 mins or until golden brown.
13. Once done, allow to cool. Once completely cool sprinkle with icing sugar.(Optional). Look at those beauties.
These crumbly cookies are simply melt in the mouth with that sweet and flavored date center.
Fun to make and more fun to watch them disappear!
Yummm...delish!!!
Ingredients
- For the Dough:
- Samolina- 1 1/2 cup
- All purpose flour-1/4 cup
- Granulated Sugar- 1tbsp
- Salt- 1/4 tsp
- Ghee -1/2 cup (clarified butter)
- Active dry yeast- 1/4 tsp
- Lukewarm water- 1/4 cup
- Whole milk -3 tbsp
- For the Filling:
- Dates(pitted)- 1 1/2 cup
- Ground nutmeg- a pinch
- Ground cardamom- a pinch
- Orange blossom water/ Rose water- 1/2 tsp
- Vegetable oil- 1 tbsp
Directions
- For the Filling:
- 1Blend the dates with the spices, oil and orange blossom water. Make 30 balls and keep aside.
- For the Dough:
- 1In a bowl add the yeast and water, allow it to stand for few mins or until it froths.
- 2Mix together Semolina, Ghee(clarified butter), all purpose flour, sugar and salt. Add water, milk and yeast and mix until a dough is formed. Allow dough to rest for 10 mins.
- 3Take lime sized ball of the dough. Pat it into a small circular disc.
- 4At this point if you do not have a traditional mamoul mould, you can place the date ball in the centre of the dough disc and wrap it up with the rest of the dough, to make a ball. Slightly press to flatten it to a cookie shape. Ready to bake.
If you have the mamoul mould place the circular disc on the mould, press it in, so that it take the shape of the mould. - 5Place a date ball in the cavity, and wrap it with the excess dough around it. Press gently to flatten the surface.Tap the mould until the dough releases. Preheat oven. Place on baking tray.
- 6Bake for 15 mins or until golden brown. Number of cookies may vary according to size of mould. My 2 inch diameter(approx) mould yielded upto 30 cookies.
- 7Once done, allow to cool. Once completely cool sprinkle with icing sugar.(Optional). Look at those beauties. You could always double the ingredients according to requirement.
Enjoy!!!
