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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 2 tablespoons tahini and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 cups fine semolina flour, 2 cups sugar, 2 tablespoons baking powder and 2 tablespoons turmeric until combined. Add the 3/4 cup ghee or butter (180g), 1 cup water and 1 cup whole milk. Whisk to combine, until there is no flour visible.
  • Pour the cake batter into the greased pan. Drizzle the 3 tablespoons toasted 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 3 tablespoons 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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