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Mohala
Saffron and cardamom griddle bread
Mohala (محلى): Emirati saffron and cardamom griddle bread with date syrup
Mohala is a thick, spongy flatbread from the UAE, cooked on a flat pan for breakfast in Emirati homes, especially during Ramadan and on winter mornings. The yeasted batter is scented with saffron and cardamom and turns golden underneath and full of holes on top, like a giant crumpet. It is eaten warm with date syrup, honey, or salty cheese and tea. The mistake is a batter that has not risen enough; it should be bubbly and doubled, or the bread is dense. Allow about 1½ hours including rising. Chef's tip: cook it covered over a low heat; the lid steams the top so you never need to flip it.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz plain flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 pinch saffron threadssoaked in 2 tbsp warm water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups lukewarm waterabout
- 2 tbsp ghee or oilfor the pan
- 4 tbsp date syrupto serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 10 ½ oz plain flour, ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp ground cardamom and ½ tsp salt. Add 1 egg, the 1 pinch saffron threads and its water, and enough 1 ½ cups lukewarm water to make a thick, pourable batter, like thick yogurt.
Step 2: Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled and full of bubbles.
60 minStep 3: Heat a heavy 24 cm frying pan over a low heat and brush with a little 2 tbsp ghee or oil. Pour in a third of the batter and spread to about 1.5 cm thick.
Step 4: Cover and cook for 7–8 minutes, until the top is dry and full of holes and the base is golden brown.
8 minStep 5: Repeat with the rest. Brush with ghee, cut into wedges and serve warm with 4 tbsp date syrup.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 300 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mohala take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 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.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
- Fresh yeast, three times the weight.
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