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Chebakia

Intricately folded Moroccan sesame pastries fried until crisp and soaked in fragrant orange blossom honey. A staple sweet for festive celebrations and special gatherings.

70 minHardServes 24180 cal/serving

MoroccanDessertStovetopVegetarianNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeNightshade-Free

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup toasted sesame seeds, finely ground
  • 1 tsp anise seed, ground
  • 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/3 cup orange blossom water
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 4 cups vegetable oil
  • 3 cups honey
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a large bowl, whisk together 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup finely ground toasted sesame seeds, 1 tsp ground anise seed, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.

  2. 2

    Add 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/3 cup orange blossom water, and 1 tbsp white vinegar, kneading until a firm, smooth dough forms.

  3. 3

    Roll the dough thinly, cut into rectangles with five slits, and fold into rose shapes.

  4. 4

    Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep pot over medium heat and warm 3 cups honey in an adjacent pan over low heat.

  5. 5

    Fry the dough shapes in hot oil until golden brown, then transfer directly into warm honey to soak for 2 minutes.

  6. 6

    Remove from honey and sprinkle with 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds before cooling.

Questions

Can I make Chebakia dairy-free?

Yes. The dairy in this entry is 1/4 cup butter, melted. Swap the butter for olive oil where it melts, or a plant-based block butter where it is creamed. The richness shifts slightly, but the method does not change.

Can I make Chebakia gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in this entry is 4 cups all-purpose flour. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

How long does Chebakia keep?

Keep it covered in the refrigerator and eat it within three days.

Can I halve or double Chebakia?

Yes. As written it serves 24. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. When doubling on the stovetop, use your widest pan or work in two batches so the food sears instead of steaming.

Serve it with

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