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Hurmašice
Hurmašice: Bosnian ridged date-shaped biscuits soaked in lemon syrup
Plates of hurmašice come out for Bajram in Bosnia, offered to every visitor with a small cup of Bosnian coffee. The name comes from hurma, the date, because each little cookie is rolled into a date-like oval and pressed on the fine side of a grater to give it ridges. After baking they are soaked in cool lemon sugar syrup until they are moist, sticky and sweet right through, yet still hold their shape. A walnut half on top is a nice touch. Where most people go wrong is pouring hot syrup over hot biscuits, which turns them to mush; one of the two must be cool. Chef's tip: make them a day ahead; overnight the syrup spreads evenly and the texture becomes soft and tender.
- Total time
- 75 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the syrup
- 14 oz sugar
- 1 ¾ cups water
- ½ lemonsliced
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
For the biscuits
- 2 eggs
- 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar
- 3 ½ oz unsalted buttermelted and cooled
- ¼ cup sunflower oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 12 ½ oz plain flour
- 24 walnut halves (optional)
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Boil 14 oz sugar, 1 ¾ cups water and ½ lemon in a pan over a medium heat for 10 minutes, until slightly syrupy. Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice and leave to cool completely.
10 minStep 2: Heat the oven to 350°F and line a deep baking tin, about 25 x 35 cm.
2 minStep 3: Whisk 2 eggs and 2 ⅞ oz caster sugar until pale, then whisk in 3 ½ oz unsalted butter, ¼ cup sunflower oil and 1 tsp vanilla extract.
3 minStep 4: Mix 1 tsp baking powder with 12 ½ oz plain flour and work it in until you have a soft, smooth dough that doesn't stick.
3 minStep 5: Roll walnut-sized pieces into ovals about 5 cm long. Press each one lightly across the fine side of a box grater to give it ridges, then lay ridged side up in the tin, a little apart. Press a 24 walnut halves half onto each if you like.
15 minStep 6: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown on top and the bottoms are well coloured.
23 minStep 7: Pour the cold syrup over the hot biscuits; it should hiss and be absorbed quickly. Leave to soak for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight, turning them once.
120 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 63 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hurmašice take?
- About 75 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 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 sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
- What can I use instead of lemon?
- Lime, or 2 tbsp bottled lemon juice per lemon (no zest from bottled juice).
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