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Layali Lubnan
Semolina pudding with cream and pistachios
Layali Lubnan ('Lebanese nights'): semolina milk pudding under cream, syrup and pistachios
Layali Lubnan — 'Lebanese nights' — is the cool, wobbly pudding Beirut families make for Ramadan evenings and summer gatherings, because it is quick and feeds a crowd from one dish. A base of milk thickened with fine semolina and scented with orange blossom is topped with a thick layer of cream, then finished with pistachios, rose petals and a trickle of sugar syrup at the table. It is gentle and milky rather than very sweet; the syrup lets everyone choose. Common mistake: pouring the cream on while the semolina is still hot; it melts in and the layers blur. Chef's tip: whisk the semolina in slowly and keep whisking for the first minute — that is what keeps it perfectly smooth.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
For the semolina layer
- 4 ¼ cups whole milk
- 3 ⅛ oz fine semolina
- 2 ⅛ oz sugar
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water
For the cream layer
- 1 ¼ cups double cream
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
For the syrup
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp rose water
To finish
- 1 ⅜ oz pistachiosfinely chopped
- 1 tbsp dried rose petals (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Make the syrup: boil 5 ½ oz sugar and ½ cup water for 5 minutes, add 1 tsp lemon juice and 1 tsp rose water, and cool.
6 minStep 2: Warm 4 ¼ cups whole milk and 2 ⅛ oz sugar in a saucepan over a medium heat until steaming. Pour in 3 ⅛ oz fine semolina in a thin stream, whisking constantly.
6 minStep 3: Keep whisking for 5–6 minutes until the mixture thickens like custard and coats the back of a spoon thickly. Stir in 1 tbsp orange blossom water.
6 minStep 4: Pour into a 20 × 30 cm dish, smooth the top and leave to cool completely, then chill for 1 hour until set.
60 minStep 5: Whip 1 ¼ cups double cream with 1 tbsp icing sugar to soft peaks and spread it evenly over the cold semolina. Chill for another hour.
60 minStep 6: Scatter with 1 ⅜ oz pistachios and 1 tbsp dried rose petals, cut into squares and serve with the cold syrup to pour over.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does layali Lubnan take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 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 whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Ramadan