Date and Semolina Bars

Saliha

Well-known member


Date-and-semolina-roll-008.jpg


Makes about 16

75g fine semolina
200g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
50g ground almonds
100g caster sugar
100g unsalted butter
1 tbsp (pomegranate) molasses
1 medium egg
25ml each of rosewater and orange‑flower water (Use orange juice if you haven´t rose/orange-flower waters.)
A handful of sesame seeds
Caster sugar, for sprinkling


For the date filling
500g pitted soft dates
100g unsalted butter, cubed
1 tsp ground allspice

1
For the dough, put the semolina, flour, baking powder, salt, almonds and sugar in a bowl. Melt the butter with the molasses, pour this into the bowl then rub through with your fingers until the mixture resembles golden breadcrumbs.

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Guardian

2
Add the egg and stir in the rose and orange-flower waters, mix and form into a ball and leave covered at room temperature for 1-2 hours so the semolina absorbs the moisture and slightly firms the dough.

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Photograph: Guardian

3
Make the date filling mix by simply pureeing the dates, butter and allspice in a food processor until very smooth. If the paste feels soft, just chill it until firm.

Step-2-008.jpg

Photograph: Guardian

4
Roll half the dough out at a time to about 20 x 18cm, roughly 5mm thick. Cut in half lengthways. Take a quarter of the date filling, form into an 18cm log, then place this along the centre of one dough rectangle. Roll the dough around the filling to seal it inside, then repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

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Photograph: Guardian

5
Press seeds on to the outside of each bar, cut into quarters and place in a tray lined with nonstick paper. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/400F/gas mark 6 and bake the rolls for about 20 minutes until they brown and slightly singe at the edges.

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Photograph: Guardian

6
As soon as they're out of the oven, dredge with caster sugar and cool.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/may/17/dan-lepard-semolina-date-bars
 
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