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Nan-e komaj
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Nan-e komaj

Sweet date-filled bread

In Khorasan and Kerman, nan-e komaj is the bread of guests and holidays: thick, soft, golden with turmeric, scented with cumin and layered with a ribbon of date paste and cinnamon. In villages around Mashhad it is baked in big rounds for Nowruz and religious feasts and cut into wedges with tea. It is sweet but not cake-like, sitting somewhere between bread and pastry. A common mistake is spreading the date paste right to the edge, which lets it leak and burn on the tray. Chef's tip: soften the dates with a spoon of hot water and a little butter before spreading; stiff date paste tears the dough.

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