Maqrouta or Date Kleicha

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cups very fine semolina or farina
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup liquid milk
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• a very small pinch of mahlab
• pinch of salt
• Fillings for the kleicha:
• dates
• butter
• a pinch of rose water or orange blossom water
• syrup or sugar syrup
• sesame seeds
• Today’s date fingers recipe comes to you from the kitchen of #Maqali_today:
• To watch a video on how to prepare a turkey and cheese sandwich loaf, click this link: turkey and cheese sandwich loaf
• Try our wonderful recipe for cardamom and saffron cake by clicking this link: Watch the video to learn how to make cardamom and saffron cake

Method

1. Sift the flour and fine semolina or farina into a deep bowl, then rub it well with the butter.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients, bring the dough together with your fingertips, and let it rest for about half an hour.
3. After the required time, add the liquid milk and knead, adding more if needed until the dough comes together.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the date fingers or kleicha filling.
5. Mix the dates and butter at room temperature with a pinch of rose water or orange blossom water, and knead the mixture well.
6. Roll out the dough, spread the date filling lengthwise over it, then roll it into a cylinder.
7. Cut the rolled dough into pieces of the desired size and shape.
8. Place syrup in a dish with sesame seeds, then dip the maqrouta or kleicha pieces in the syrup and sesame.
9. Arrange the date maqrouta in a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then place it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
10. Bake the maqrouta for about 10 minutes, until cooked and lightly browned, then remove from the oven and let it cool completely before serving.
    Timers: 10 min