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Khubz ahmar
Red date bread
Khubz ahmar (خبز أحمر): Hasawi red date bread with fenugreek and black seed
In the palm groves of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, bakers slap rounds of khubz ahmar onto the walls of tannour ovens, and its colour, a deep reddish brown, comes from date syrup kneaded straight into the dough. Locals eat it for breakfast and with tea, often spread with cream cheese or dipped in more syrup. Fenugreek and black seed give it a warm, almost maple-like perfume, and the crumb is dense and soft with a chewy crust. A common mistake is adding too much flour because the dough feels sticky; the syrup makes it tacky, and extra flour turns the bread heavy. Oil your hands instead. Chef's tip: bake on a very hot stone and pull the breads once the edges darken; the sugars burn quickly after that.
- Total time
- 150 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the dough
- 14 oz wholemeal flour
- ¼ oz instant dried yeast
- 1 tsp ground fenugreek
- 1 tsp nigella (black seed)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup date syrup
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
For the top
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Mix 14 oz wholemeal flour, ¼ oz instant dried yeast, 1 tsp ground fenugreek, 1 tsp nigella (black seed) and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. Stir ½ cup date syrup into 1 cup warm water, pour it in with 2 tbsp vegetable oil and mix into a soft, sticky dough.
Step 2: Knead with oiled hands for 8 minutes until smoother and elastic.
8 minStep 3: Cover and leave in a warm spot until risen by about half, around 90 minutes; wholemeal and syrup make it slower than white bread.
90 minStep 4: Heat the oven to 475°F with a baking stone or heavy tray inside for at least 20 minutes.
Step 5: Divide the dough into 6 balls. On baking paper, press each into a round about 1 cm thick and 15 cm wide. Dimple lightly and sprinkle with 1 tbsp sesame seeds.
Step 6: Bake two or three at a time until puffed with darkened edges and a hollow sound when tapped underneath, 8–10 minutes.
30 minStep 7: Cool under a cloth. They are best the same day and toast well the next.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbs
- 62 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does khubz ahmar take?
- About 150 minutes in total: 120 minutes to prepare and 30 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 vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
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