Name: Makroud
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: Algeria, North Africa
Ingredients: 3 cups fine semolina; Â½ cup melted butter; 1 tbsp orange blossom water; 500 g pitted dates, soft variety like Deglet Noor; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tbsp orange blossom water; 1 cup honey; 3 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying

Makroud

Diamond-shaped semolina pastries filled with fragrant date paste and deep-fried until golden, then dipped in warm honey syrup. A treasured Algerian sweet.

Country

Algeria

Region

North Africa

Time

70 min

Serves

Level

hard

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Makroud is the jewel of Algerian patisserie, particularly associated with the city of Kairouan and the southern oasis towns. Every household prepares trays of makroud for Eid celebrations, weddings, and to welcome guests. The art lies in achieving the perfect ratio of crispy semolina shell to soft, spiced date filling, all glistening with honey.

What the dish tastes like

Diamond-shaped semolina pastries filled with fragrant date paste and deep-fried until golden, then dipped in warm honey syrup. A treasured Algerian sweet.

When to cook it

Best for Eid, weddings, celebrations, with a hard cooking level and about 70 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Mint tea or Arabic coffee

Follow the collection route

Makroud belongs to 2 AfroKitchen collections. Vegetarian Africa is the strongest cluster route to start from. Vegetarian Africa

Make the date filling

Process the dates with cinnamon and orange blossom water until you have a smooth, thick paste. Roll into long logs about 1.5cm in diameter. Set aside.

If dates are dry, add a tablespoon of warm water while processing.

Prepare the dough

Combine semolina with melted butter, orange blossom water, a pinch of salt, and enough warm water to form a firm but pliable dough. Knead for 5 minutes.

The dough should hold together without being sticky.

Knead dough 05:00

Shape the makroud

Divide dough into portions. Roll each into a log and make a groove down the centre. Place a date paste log inside and seal the dough around it. Flatten slightly and cut into diamond shapes.

Use a fork to press a decorative pattern on each piece.

Fry until golden

Heat oil to 170C (340F). Fry the makroud in batches for 3-4 minutes, turning once, until deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

Do not overcrowd the pan â€” fry in small batches for even cooking.

Fry makroud 04:00

Dip in honey

Warm the honey gently. Dip each fried makroud into the warm honey, turning to coat all sides. Place on a rack to let excess honey drip off.

Warm honey coats more evenly than cold. Let them cool completely before storing.

Serve

Arrange on a platter and allow to cool completely. Makroud keep well in an airtight container for up to a week.

Makroud

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Step-by-step instructions

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