Sudan | Dessert

Basbousa

Sudanese-style basbousa, a syrup-soaked semolina cake with yoghurt, butter, almonds, coconut, and rose water.

Country
Sudan
Region
North Africa
Time
85 min
Serves
12
Level
easy
Explore Sudan recipes Open Vegetarian Africa
Recipe overview

What to know before you cook

Use this overview to check the occasion, serving ideas, regional context, and cooking commitment before you begin.

When to cook it

Best for Eid, weddings, celebrations. Plan on a easy cook and about 85 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Tea, coffee, fresh fruit, or extra syrup

Follow the collection

Basbousa appears in 2 AfroKitchen collections. Start with Vegetarian Africa if you want more dishes in the same mood. Vegetarian Africa

Regional lane

Sudan national table. A structured Sudan dish in the AfroKitchen archive.

Chef watch-outs
  • Rushing the base before the raw edge has cooked out.
  • Adding all seasoning early and forgetting to adjust at the end.
  • Cooking on heat that is too high once the dish should be steaming or simmering.
How you know it is ready
  • The aroma should smell rounded rather than raw or sharp.
  • Oil, sauce, broth, or steam should look settled and deliberate.
  • The final texture should match the dish style before you plate it.
Chef board

Build the table around Basbousa

Tea, coffee, fresh fruit, or extra syrup

Best route from here

Sudan national table

Collections to keep cooking
Explore Sudan recipes
Servings 12

Scale the dish before you shop, then use the checklist while you cook.

How to cook it

Step-by-step method

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to Sudan
5 steps 50 min prep 35 min cook 85 min total easy
1
Make the syrup
Combine 1.5 cups sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, add lemon juice, and simmer for 8 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in rose water and set aside to cool completely.
Kitchen noteThe syrup MUST be cold when poured on the hot cake — this is the secret to proper absorption.
Syrup 08:00
2
Mix the batter
Combine the semolina, 1 cup sugar, yoghurt, melted butter, baking powder, and coconut. Mix well and let rest for 30 minutes so the semolina absorbs the moisture.
Kitchen noteResting is essential — it softens the semolina for a smoother cake.
Rest batter 30:00
3
Bake
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Spread the batter evenly in a greased 23×33cm baking dish. Score into diamond shapes and press an almond into each piece. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden.
Kitchen noteScore before baking so the syrup penetrates deeply into each piece.
Bake 30:00
4
Soak with syrup
Remove the hot cake from the oven and immediately pour the cold syrup evenly over the entire surface. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes to absorb.
Kitchen noteYou will hear the satisfying sizzle when the cold syrup hits the hot cake.
Absorb syrup 30:00
5
Serve
Re-cut along the scored lines and serve at room temperature. Basbousa keeps well covered at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Kitchen noteIn Sudan, basbousa is always served with strong coffee or sweet tea with milk.

Every household has small variations. Start here, then adjust seasoning, heat, and serving sides to your kitchen.

Keep exploring

Cook around Basbousa

Follow country, category, collection, time, and pairing paths without turning the recipe page into a link farm.

Ful Medames recipe from Sudan Sudan Main dish Ful Medames Sudanese ful medames, slow-cooked fava beans mashed with cumin, lemon, garlic, onion, chile, and sesame oil. Time610 min ServingsServes 6 DifficultyEasy DietVegan RegionNorth Africa Open recipe Sudan Recipe Gurasa Sudanese soft wheat flatbread cooked on a griddle and served with stews, mullah, or spiced meat. Time70 min ServingsServes 8 DifficultyMedium DietVegan RegionNorth Africa Open recipe Sudan Stew Mullah Ahmar Tagalia Sudanese red meat stew thickened with dried okra powder and seasoned with onion, tomato, garlic, and spices. Time100 min ServingsServes 6 DifficultyMedium DietGluten Free RegionNorth Africa Open recipe Sudan Main dish Shaiyah Sudanese fried lamb or beef cooked with onion, garlic, tomato, cumin, coriander, and lemon. Time55 min ServingsServes 5 DifficultyEasy DietGluten Free RegionNorth Africa Open recipe
Browse AfroKitchen Explore Sudan recipes