BESSABOUSSA

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit or 177 degrees celcius.  Grease a ~10” x 6”* pan with the tahini, butter, or crisco. 

Syrup

1 C                sugar

1 C                water

1 tbsp                orange flower water 

Cake

2 C                farina or cream of wheat

1 tsp                baking powder

1 C                yogurt or sour cream

1-1/2 C                 sugar (use 1C if 1/2 C coconut is used)

3 tbsp                oil or melted unsalted butter

1/2 C                coconut (optional)

2 doz                blanched almonds (with skins removed)

1 tsp                tahini, butter, or butter flavor crisco (use more or less as needed)

 

1.    Prepare syrup by bringing sugar and water to a slow boil until sticky and somewhat thicker than water.  Stir frequently.  I boil it on low for at least 30-40 minutes with lid on.  Add orange flower water after syrup is formed.

 

2.    Mix farina and baking powder in bowl.  Add yogurt, sugar, coconut, and melted butter.  Mix well.

 

3.    Pour batter (it will be thick) into pan.  Pat it down and smooth it with your hands or a large spoon.  Make a design of diamonds by scoring diagonally with a knife or spatula.

 

4.    Place blanched almonds in each diamond.  Bake in preheated oven (350 F or 177 C) for 40-45 minutes or until sides have turned brown.  After turning off oven, broil on high for 2-2.5 minutes.  Watch so top doesn’t burn or get darker than you want it to.

 

5.    After removing from oven, pour syrup over cake while still hot from the oven.  Let stand until cool.