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Ghorabieh Tabrizi
Almond and egg-white cookies
Ghorabieh Tabrizi (قرابیه تبریزی): chewy almond and egg-white cookies from Tabriz
Every traveller to Tabriz is expected to bring back a box of ghorabieh from the bazaar confectioners: pale, domed almond cookies with a thin crackled shell and a soft, chewy middle, scented with vanilla and sometimes topped with a sliver of pistachio. They are a Nowruz favourite in Azerbaijan province and keep well, so families bake them a week ahead. A common mistake is baking them too hot, which browns the outside before the inside sets and leaves them hollow. Chef's tip: let the piped cookies sit for 20 minutes before baking so a skin forms; that skin gives the classic crackled top.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz ground almondsfinely ground, sifted
- 7 oz icing sugar
- 3 egg whitesat room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom
- 2 tbsp pistachio slivers (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 325°F (275°F fan) and line two trays with baking paper.
2 minStep 2: Mix the 10 ½ oz ground almonds and 7 oz icing sugar in a bowl. Whisk the 3 egg whites until frothy and just holding soft peaks.
5 minStep 3: Fold the whites, 1 tsp vanilla extract and ¼ tsp ground cardamom into the almond mix to make a thick, sticky paste that holds a shape when piped.
3 minStep 4: Spoon into a piping bag with a 1.5 cm plain nozzle and pipe 4 cm domes, 3 cm apart. Top each with a 2 tbsp pistachio slivers sliver. Leave uncovered for 20 minutes until the surface is dry to the touch.
25 minStep 5: Bake for 20–25 minutes until the tops have cracked and are very lightly golden, and the bases lift from the paper. They should still be soft when pressed.
25 minStep 6: Cool fully on the tray; they become chewy as they cool. Store in an airtight tin for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 100 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ghorabieh Tabrizi take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ground almonds?
- Ground cashews, same amount.
- What can I use instead of icing sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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