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–+ servings
Square of sfouf cake on a blue and white patterned plate with a fork on a blue background.
5 from 1 rating

Sfouf (Turmeric Cake with Semolina)

Yield: 20 pieces
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Author: Amina Al-Saigh
Sfouf is a unique Lebanese cake made with semolina and turmeric, with a beautiful golden colour. It's a quick and easy one bowl cake that you can whip up anytime to enjoy with tea or coffee.
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Ingredients
 

For the Cake

  • 2 tablespoons tahini, for greasing, see notes
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 180g
  • 2 1/2 cups fine semolina flour, 340g
  • 2 cups sugar, 400g
  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons turmeric
  • 3/4 cup ghee or butter (180g), melted
  • 1 cup water, 236ml
  • 1 cup whole milk, 236ml

For the Topping

  • 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, see notes for using raw sesame seeds
  • 3 tablespoons honey

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 13 by 9 inch rectangular pan with tahini and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients until combined. Add the melted butter, milk and water. Whisk to combine, until there is no flour visible.
  • Pour the cake batter into the greased pan. Drizzle the sesame seeds on top and bake for 35-37 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. The top should rise and hold its shape.
  • Allow the cake to cool for 5 minutes then glaze with the honey by drizzling it on top. Cut the sfouf into equal squares. It can be served immediately warm or stored at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. To enjoy warm, simply reheat a slice in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Notes

  • The tahini used to grease the pan can be replaced with butter.
  • Avoid over mixing the batter as it will result in a thick and tough texture.
  • Ghee or butter can be substituted with oil for a vegan option.
  • Plant based milk can be substituted for dairy milk.
  • In case you have raw sesame seeds, toast them in a dry pan for a couple of minutes, stirring until they turn lightly golden.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 284kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 189mg, Potassium: 102mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 234IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 108mg, Iron: 2mg
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