AI-generated image
Ghraybeh
Ghraybeh: pale, melt-in-the-mouth Levantine shortbread crowned with a pistachio
Across Syria, Lebanon and Palestine, trays of ghraybeh appear for Eid and weddings next to ma'amoul; in Aleppo they are often shaped into little bracelets with a pistachio at the join. Made from just ghee, icing sugar and flour, they are so tender they crumble as soon as you bite, and they should stay ivory-white, never brown. Serve with strong coffee or mint tea. Common mistake: baking until golden — they should come out pale and still soft, and firm up as they cool. Chef's tip: whip the ghee and sugar for a full 10 minutes until white and fluffy; that is what gives the melting texture.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 7 oz gheesoft but not melted
- 3 ½ oz icing sugar
- 1 tsp orange blossom water
- 10 ½ oz plain floursifted
- 24 pistachioswhole kernels
Shop this recipe on Amazon
What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (1)
Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Beat 7 oz ghee with an electric whisk for 5 minutes until pale. Add 3 ½ oz icing sugar and beat for another 5–8 minutes until white, fluffy and doubled in volume.
13 minStep 2: Add 1 tsp orange blossom water, then fold in 10 ½ oz plain flour by hand until a soft dough forms that doesn't stick to your fingers. Chill for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 3: Heat the oven to 300°F (275°F fan) and line a tray. Roll walnut-sized balls and flatten slightly, or roll into thin 10 cm ropes and join into rings.
Step 4: Press one of the 24 pistachios into each cookie (at the join, for rings).
Step 5: Bake for 13–15 minutes until set but still completely pale underneath. Leave on the tray until fully cool; they are very fragile when warm. Store airtight for 2 weeks.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 140 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ghraybeh take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 15 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.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of ghee?
- Butter, same amount (keep the heat a little lower, butter burns sooner).
- What can I use instead of icing sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Reform torta
Belgrade pastry shops have sold reform torta since the early twentieth century, and it is still the cake Serbian families bring out for birthdays, weddings and the slava. Three thin layers of walnut meringue, crisp at the edge and chewy inside, are stacked with a dense chocolate butter cream made with egg yolks cooked over steam until thick. It is very rich, so cut thin slices and serve with strong coffee. The usual slip is beating the butter into a chocolate mixture that is still warm, which melts it and splits the cream; let it cool to room temperature first. Chef's tip: assemble the cake the day before; overnight in the fridge the meringue softens a little and the cake slices cleanly with a hot knife.
Ma'amoul
Ma'amoul are delicate shortbread-like pastries made for Eid and Easter across the Middle East. A soft, rose-scented butter dough is wrapped around a filling of dates, walnuts, almonds and pistachios cooked with cinnamon, marked with a fork, baked pale and dusted with icing sugar. Makes 35; they keep well in a tin.
Banana and cashew slice
A soft, moist low-calorie slice made without flour, eggs or refined sugar: ripe bananas are blended with sunflower oil, vanilla and cardamom, then cashews, desiccated coconut, oats and grated apple. Baked and cut into wedges, it is naturally sweet and good with tea or in a lunch box.
Indian