Do your taste buds a favor and taste this dessert once in your life. Ghee lends this dish a heavenly nice buttery flavor, sweetened to your taste, very easy to make, all ingredients are probably in your pantry… in just two word perfect dessert. The only downside is that it is packed with calories so, definitely not for those who are on diet.
I think this dessert is as old as Egypt itself, really it is so old , the kind that great great grannies used to make. I’ve seen my grandmother make it once and never seen my mom making it !!!. This dessert is one that you do not want to make in the summer heat as it fills you up and gives you lots of warmth.
Sadd Al Hanaak literally means something to SHUT YOU UP :). What does this mean is that it fills you up and makes you unable to open your mouth to eat anything more or talk anymore!!. There is a saying in the Arab world -specially Egypt – when you feel you are having a one sided conversation with someone, so you say ” What is the matter with you, did you just have Sadd Al Hanaak?” funny huh?!!
To make this dish, you just need to cook some flour in melted ghee, then add a simple sugar syrup to it, cook until well incorporated, spoon in dishes and garnish with nuts if desirable. Some people though makes some energy balls out of it, by increasing the amount of flour a little to reach a roux or a soft dough consistency then shape it in balls, but my family preferred it the way I show it to you in the video.
Here is a short video on how to make the – I believe – oldest Egyptian dessert of Sadd Al Hanaak, I hope you’ll like it…. Enjoy.
- 2 Tbs of ghee- or butter.
- 6 Tbs of sugar - I've used only 4.
- 4 Tbs of flour.
- 4 Tbs of water.
- 1 Tbs sesame seeds- optional.
- Nuts for garnishing- optional.
- Dissolve the sugar in the water.
- Heat a sauce pan on medium and melt the ghee.
- Add the flour, if you are using sesame, add to the melted ghee first.
- Stir to cook the flour,until it is golden.
- Gradually add the water and stir quickly
- Keep stirring until it caramelizes a little
- Serve at room temperature and garnish with nuts
Sounds easy and delish. Tx. Have you ever eaten mefataa? My friends grandma made it. Guey and nutty and sweet. My mother or grandma never made it. Somehow i remember she had to buy something from the attar.
Oh Simone, I have seen meftaa in stores in Egypt too. I have never made it myself and I remember tasting it only once when I was a little kid as my mom hopelessly was trying to make me gain weight :)))). Aaand guess what? I am trying to do the same with my kiddos as they are shamefully skinny hehehe.
I’ve made this three times and it’s very, very good, super easy and quick to make; the good thing is that you can add whatever you want to the recipe, depending on what you like (flavors, textures, nuts…)
Thank you Stephanie, I am happy you liked it. I always encourage my readers to play with recipes to their own liking.. it is amazing what you guys come up with.
I am always inspired to try new desserts – and this sounds tasty! I’m in!
How interesting this dessert…I have never had anything like it…sounds very tasty.
Have a great week Amira 🙂