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Khanfaroosh
Saffron rice-flour cakes
Khanfaroosh: Emirati saffron rice-flour cakes fried in oil
Khanfaroosh are an old Emirati sweet, made by grandmothers in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah and served with Arabic coffee when guests arrive, at weddings and during Eid. A rice-flour batter rich with eggs, saffron, cardamom and rose water is shallow-fried in small rounds that puff up, golden-brown with a lacy edge and a soft, spongy middle. They are less sweet than they look and best eaten warm from the pan. Chef's tip: let the batter rest for 30 minutes so the rice flour softens; unrested batter fries up gritty.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- ¼ tsp saffron threads
- 2 tbsp rose water
- 3 eggsat room temperature
- 3 ½ oz sugar
- 7 oz rice flour
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- ½ cup milk
- ¾ cup vegetable oilfor shallow-frying
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Crumble ¼ tsp saffron threads into 2 tbsp rose water and leave to steep for 10 minutes.
10 minStep 3: Add 7 oz rice flour, 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder, 1 tsp ground cardamom, ½ cup milk and the saffron rose water and whisk to a smooth batter, about as thick as pancake batter. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 4: Heat ¾ cup vegetable oil in a frying pan to about 1 cm deep over a medium heat, until a drop of batter sizzles and rises at once.
Step 5: Stir the batter, then drop in heaped tablespoons, 4–5 at a time, leaving room to spread. Fry for 2 minutes until the underside is deep golden and the edges lacy, then turn and fry 1–2 minutes more until both sides are brown and the middle springs back. Common mistake: frying over a high heat; the outside darkens long before the thick centre is cooked.
20 minStep 6: Drain on kitchen paper and serve warm with Arabic coffee or tea.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 46 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khanfaroosh take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 35 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.
- 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 eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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