Basbousa

This is a really simple baked dessert. It is very similar to sheera or halwa in taste as it is basically sweetened semolina. However, baking the dish gives it a lovely moist cake like texture.

I used almonds but you can use cashews or pistachios to decorate the top.

Recipe adapted from here
You will need
3/4 cup semolina
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp. oil
2 tbsp. yogurt
1/2 cup milk

Almonds for garnish

For the syrup
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
a squeeze of lemon juice

In a mixing bowl combine the semolina, all purpose flour, baking powder and sugar. Add the vanilla extract, melted butter and oil. Mix until crumbly. Add the yogurt and milk and whisk into a thick batter. Pour batter into a round 7" pan greased with a little oil. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile preheat oven to 300 F.

In the meantime boil the syrup ingredients until the sugar dissolves. Turn off heat and let the syrup cool. Remove the pan from the refrigerator and score the top in the shape of diamonds.

Press an almond in the center of each diamond. Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Pour the syrup over the top and bake for another 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and cut along scored lines to form diamonds. Tastes great hot or chilled.

Enjoy!