Sfouf (Lebanese Turmeric Cake)

Sfouf are the perfect cake to have with your daily cup of tea. They are not too sweet or creamy and the subtle hint of turmeric makes them a little more interesting than your average sponge.

What's even better is that they don't require eggs so if you've found yourself with none in these quarantine times and really want cake, then consider making this traditional semolina dessert.

My traditional Lebanese cookbook suggested that the semolina to flour ratio should be 3:1 and another favourite Lebanese cook suggested the opposite ratio of 1:3.

I tried both and in the end settled on having equal amounts of semolina to flour as I don't wan't it too be too crumbly or too spongey.

Some people also use dehydrated milk instead of real milk but I don't like the dehydrated stuff as it usually has extra sweeteners in.

Though of course in these times it is good to know substitutes when you can't get your hands on the basics.

Warning. This recipe makes alot of cake so feel free to half the ingredients if you don't have a large rectangular cake tin.

You can use a brownie tin too. I used a 30 x 35cm aluminium cake tin which I feel distributes the heat nicely.

When you remove your sfouf from the oven, let the cake cool and store in an airtight container as soon as they cool, since they dry very quickly and are best eaten within three days.

In a similar way to the other semolina cake Namoura, you must brush the cake tin with tahini so it won't stick.

Once you bring the batter together, pour it into the cake tin and add either peeled almonds or pine nuts to where you imagine the middle of each slice would be.

Then let it rest for half an hour or so before baking at 180C (350F) fan for around 25 minutes.

Get ready for that gorgeous golden turmeric smell once it emerges from the oven and can only mean one thing; time for tea and sfouf.

📖 Recipe

5 from 6 votes

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Sfouf (Lebanese Turmeric Cake)

Eggless Semolina Turmeric cake

Course Dessert

Cuisine Lebanese

Keyword Baking, Easy, Eggless

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Servings 10 people

Ingredients

• 2 cups fine semolina
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 ½ cups milk
• ½ cup water
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• ½ teaspoon orange blossom water
• Peeled Almonds or pine nuts for topping
• 2-3 tablespoon of Tahini

Instructions

1. Pre heat the oven to 180C (350F)

2. Combine the semolina, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Sieve the flour, turmeric, and baking powder. Mix everything together well.

3. Add the milk, orange blossom and water. Fold together gently then add the oil and keep folding until well combined. Be patient as this will take a few minutes but it will come together soon

4. Brush a large cake tin (approx 30 x 35 cm) with tahini. Pour in the cake batter and add the peeled almonds or pine nuts where you imagine the middle of the slice would be

5. Leave to stand for half an hour or so, then bake for around 25 minutes, turning the cake ¾ of the way through to get an even bake
6. Slice the cake once cooled and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days

Recipe Notes

If you don't have a large cake tin, divide the cake into two smaller tins

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