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Abreh (Sudanese white sorghum flake drink)
Abreh abyad: paper-thin white sorghum flakes soaked in sweetened water for a cool, mild Ramadan drink
Where hilu-mur is dark and spiced, abreh abyad, white abreh, is its pale, gentle partner: a batter of white sorghum flour is left to sour lightly, then baked into thin cream-coloured flakes that are soaked in cold, sweetened water and served at iftar across northern Sudan. The drink is cloudy, refreshing and faintly tangy, a good way to rehydrate after a long day of fasting; some families add a splash of lime or a little cardamom. The overnight souring takes 12–18 hours and is not counted in the totals; it is non-alcoholic, and the flakes are dried hard on the griddle. Spreading the batter too thickly is the classic mistake, so work fast and thin. Chef's tip: make a big batch in one session; the dry flakes keep for months in a tin, so a jug of abreh is only an hour away.
- Total time
- 110 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
For the flakes
- 2 ¼ lb white sorghum flour
- 6 ¾ cups warm waterabout
- 1 pinch salt
To make each jug of drink
- 2 ⅞ oz abreh flakesmade above, or bought
- 4 ¼ cups cold waterfiltered
- 2 ⅞ oz sugarto taste
- 1 tbsp lime juice (optional)
- ¼ tsp ground cardamom (optional)
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Whisk the 2 ¼ lb white sorghum flour, 1 pinch salt and two-thirds of the 6 ¾ cups warm water into a thick, smooth paste. Cover and leave at warm room temperature for 12–18 hours, until it smells lightly sour and has a few bubbles.
10 minStep 2: Whisk in the rest of the water to make a batter like single cream.
Step 3: Heat a large flat griddle or non-stick pan over a medium heat. Pour on a small ladle of batter and spread it at once with a flat spatula into a very thin sheet.
1 minStep 4: Cook for 1–2 minutes, without turning, until the sheet is dry, matt and lifts at the edges; it should stay pale with only light freckles. Peel off and lay on a rack. Repeat with all the batter.
85 minStep 5: Leave the sheets to dry in the air for a few hours, then crumble into flakes and store in an airtight tin for up to 3 months.
Step 6: To serve, soak the 2 ⅞ oz abreh flakes in the 4 ¼ cups cold water for 30–60 minutes, stir in the 2 ⅞ oz sugar, 1 tbsp lime juice and ¼ tsp ground cardamom and strain if you like a smoother drink. Serve very cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does abreh (Sudanese white sorghum flake drink) take?
- About 110 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 90 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 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.
- 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.
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