Crispy Sesame Kaak

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup oil
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground anise or mahlab (optional)
• Toasted sesame seeds
• This delicious recipe is from a friend and cook on Sho Tabkhin Today:
• Laila Hammoud
• For more pastries, see: How to make baguette bread
• Also try Whole Wheat and Oats Toast from Laila as well

Method

1. Dissolve the sugar in the milk, add the oil and mix well
2. Sift the flour and add it with the baking powder, salt and aniseed or mahleb ... stir well then knead to obtain a somewhat soft dough
3. Toast a quantity of sesame without letting it change color.. and set it aside
4. Shape the dough lengthwise to the size desired... and dip it in the sesame on one side, pressing slightly so the sesame adheres
5. Place the dough on a baking tray lightly greased with oil or lined with parchment paper... preheat the oven to 180°C
6. Bake the kaak in two stages.. first bake for 15 minutes at 180°C then reduce the oven to 130°C and leave the kaak for 20 to 25 minutes to dry out
7. When the kaak turn golden.. turn off the oven then place all the kaak on one tray (if we have more than one) and leave them in the oven after switching it off for half an hour
8. Laila Hamoud
9. For more pastries see: How to make baguette bread
10. Also try Laila's whole wheat and oat toast