Halawet Al Smeed (Semolina cheese dessert)
By: Manal Obieda
Published: Sunday, August 11, 2013 - 10:56am

Ingredients




2 cups fine semolina flour
100 grams butter
2 cups Cold Qater ; simple syrup (recipe follows)
250-350 grams sweet white cheese (We use a special cheese that melts with heat. You can get this from any Middle Eastern food store. If salty, soak in water for a day before, wash several time to remove as much of the salty taste as you can)
1 cup water
2 table spoons Orange Blossom water
Garnish:
Ground Pistachios
Qishta or whipping cream
Candied cherries
For the simple Syrup:
5 cups of sugar
2.5 cups of water
Juice of half a medium size lemon

Preparation

1 In a medium size pan, toast the semolina and butter together while stirring continuously to ensure that the semolina is toasted with no color. This will take approximately 15 minutes over medium heat. 2 Add the simple syrup gradually and stir. Let is bubble over low heat for 10 minutes 3 Add water and stir and let it cook again over low heat for 5 mintues 4 Add the cheese and stir until all cheese is gooey and melted 5 Take off heat and add orange blossom water 6 Spread in a serving dish, I like to serve it family style and garnish with pistachios, whipping cream and candied cherries. 7 To make the simple syrup 8 In a pan mix water and sugar over medium heat and bring it to a boil. Don't stir until you see all sugar is dissolved 9 Add lemon juice and let it simmer for 2 minutes 10 Remover off heat and let it cool.

About

A great Arabic Middle Eastern dessert that is usually eaten during the month of Ramadan...easy to make and delicious if you have the love for eastern food...Best served hot..