Makrouta

It's time for Arabic flavour recipe of the month! This time recipe was from my beloved country Palestine. "Makrouta" a Palestinian date pinwheel cookies that was presented by My beautiful friend Mais Albasel (host of the month). And this was my entry for the amazing Makrouta cookies.

Mais chose to share her grandmother's recipe for this traditional cookies, that has been inherited in her family for many generations. Makrouta is very easy to make, it is simple flour,ghee, and some aromatic herbs like anise and mastic for exotic flavors!

Will leave you now with the full recipe, adapted from Arabic Flavour, Enjoy! :)

Makrouta (Palestinian date pinwheel cookies) :

Dough ingredients: 3 cups flour 1 cup ghee 4 tbsp ground anise 4 tbsp ground roasted sesame 4 tbsp sesame seeds 1 tsp dry active yeast Pinch of salt 1 tsp sugar 1/4 tsp ground mastic crushed with pinch of sugar 1 cup of water

Dates filling: 700 g ground dates paste 2 tbsp ground anise 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tbsp sesame seeds 1 tbsp ghee or butter 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions: – To prepare the dough we need to mix all dry ingredients (flour , anise, sugar , yeast , salt and mastic). – Add the melted ghee and mix well until incorporated. – Add water gradually – the quantity may vary depends on the kind of flour- and knead until it holds up nicely. – Prepare the dates by mixing all its ingredients together very well. – Preheat oven into 180 degrees. – To shape Maqrouta it is similar to the way we prepare cinnamon rolls. First we need to divide the dough into 3 sections. – On a flat non sticky surface, spread one part of the dough into a rectangle until around 3mm in thickness. – Using two parchment papers, spread one part of the date between them making a rectangle that fits with the dough’s rectangle. – Place the dates spread on top of the dough and roll starting from the longest edge of the rectangle. – Cut diagonally and place on baking pans . – Bake for 20 minutes or until it is golden brown. – Let it cool down and then serve with a cup of coffee.