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Chebab
Saffron yeast pancakes
Chebab (جباب): Emirati saffron and cardamom yeast pancakes
Chebab are the thick, spongy pancakes that Emirati families make for breakfast in Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain, especially on Fridays and through Ramadan for suhoor. The batter is yeasted, so the pancakes rise in the pan and come out holey and soft like a crumpet, tinted yellow with saffron and scented with cardamom. They are served stacked with date syrup poured over and a spoonful of fresh chami or cream cheese on the side. Flipping too early is the classic error: wait until the top is covered in bubbles and looks dry at the edges, or the pancake tears. Chef's tip: leave the batter to rise until it is properly bubbly; a lazy batter gives flat, heavy chebab.
- Total time
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the batter
- 9 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp instant dried yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 pinch salt
- ¼ tsp saffron threadssoaked in 1 tbsp hot water
- 1 egglarge
- 1 ½ cups whole milklukewarm
To cook and serve
- 2 tbsp gheefor the pan
- 4 tbsp date syrup
- 5 ½ oz soft white cheese (optional)chami or plain cream cheese
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Whisk 9 oz plain flour, 1 tsp instant dried yeast, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp ground cardamom and 1 pinch salt in a bowl.
2 minStep 2: Beat 1 egg into the warm 1 ½ cups whole milk with ¼ tsp saffron threads and its soaking water, then whisk it into the flour to a smooth batter about as thick as double cream.
Step 3: Cover and leave in a warm place for 40 minutes, until the surface is covered in bubbles and the batter has risen by about half.
40 minStep 4: Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat and brush with a little of 2 tbsp ghee. Pour in a small ladle of batter (about 80 ml) and let it spread by itself to about 12 cm across.
Step 5: Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the top is full of holes and looks set at the edges and the base is golden. Flip and cook for 1 minute more.
4 minStep 6: Repeat with the rest of the batter, greasing the pan lightly each time and keeping the cooked pancakes under a cloth. You should get about 12.
14 minStep 7: Serve warm, drizzled with 4 tbsp date syrup, with 5 ½ oz soft white cheese on the side.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does chebab take?
- About 65 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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