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Khabeesa
Khabeesa (خبيصة): Emirati and Qatari saffron toasted flour sweet
Khabeesa is made in Emirati and Qatari kitchens for Eid mornings, new babies and Ramadan nights: flour toasted until golden, then cooked with saffron syrup and ghee until it turns into fragrant, crumbly clusters, a bit like a soft, buttery halwa that breaks apart. It is served in a small bowl on the coffee tray, eaten with a spoon or the fingers, and its aroma of saffron, cardamom and rosewater fills the house. The mistake to avoid is pouring in the syrup all at once, which makes lumps that never break up. Chef's tip: keep pressing and turning the mixture against the pan once the ghee goes in; that is what forms the little golden crumbs.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the syrup
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- ¾ cup water
- ½ tsp saffron threads
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tbsp rosewater
For the khabeesa
- 7 oz plain flour
- 3 ½ oz ghee
- 2 tbsp pistachios or almonds (optional)chopped, to decorate
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Simmer 5 ½ oz sugar, ¾ cup water and ½ tsp saffron threads in a small pan for 5 minutes, until the sugar dissolves and the syrup is deep yellow. Stir in 1 tsp ground cardamom and 1 tbsp rosewater and keep warm.
5 minStep 2: Toast 7 oz plain flour in a wide, heavy pan over a medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 10–12 minutes, until it is evenly golden brown and smells of biscuits.
12 minStep 3: Pour in the warm syrup a ladle at a time, stirring hard after each addition so it is absorbed before the next. Careful: it will steam and spit.
3 minStep 4: Add 3 ½ oz ghee and keep stirring and pressing for 4–5 minutes, until the mixture leaves the pan, turns glossy and breaks into soft, moist crumbs and small clusters.
5 minStep 5: Spoon into a serving dish, scatter with 2 tbsp pistachios or almonds if using, and serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 400 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 53 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khabeesa take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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