Yo guys! how are you doing? Because it is spring (hooray), everything seems brighter and blooming. It is the season of love,hope and new beginnings. Speaking of flowers and blossoms , I could not find a more convenient recipe that goes well with this season than the Tunisian Deblah to re-share it with you.
A charming dessert that really brings smiles to everyone's face. Do not be deceived by its complicated look, these are very simple to make and shape, not that hard at all. I've made it both with and without pasta machine and it turned out great both ways. I hope you'll like this recipe and enjoy making it. Happy spring to you all.
----------------------------Here is the original post was published on April 15th 2014
I probably have to stay for the rest of my life on a treadmill. Every time I decide "ok this is enough, no more sweets no more desserts" , then I find a recipe that is calling me to make and after making it, calling me to eat :). But this time I outsmarted the recipe and took one or two then wrapped them all and gave to hubby to get them on a trip out of the house and into his work to get feedback and to share the calories and IT WAS HARD LETTING THEM GO 🙂.
I've got a very encouraging feedback although one of my favorite critics was not there and those babes were gone in a jiffy. Deblah in Arabic is the ring or precisely the engagement ring, although I do not see any rings here I can see them as cute little flowers. This type of dessert is very common in Libya and Tunisia and served in the holly month of Ramadan and I can serve them year round with no problem at all :).
They require a little work specially if you do not have a pasta machine, but the result sure worth it. They are crunchy, sweet, bite sized and very appealing to the eye and mouth.
You will need:
- 1 Egg white.
- 2 c all purpose flour.
- 2 Tbs soft unsalted butter.
- ¼ teaspoon of active dry yeast.
- ¼ teaspoon of baking powder.
- ⅔ c of rose water or tap water.
- a dash of vanilla.
- Oil for frying.
- Sesame seeds for garnishing - optional.
For the simple syrup- we will need a thick one:
- 2 c of granulated white sugar.
- 1 c of water.
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
- ⅛ teaspoon of liquid vanilla or a dash of the powdered one.
Mix the flour, B.P. and yeast together in the mixing bowl. Add the butter in little chunks and mix well.
Mix the egg white and the vanilla together then add to the flour mixture, mix well. Then start adding the water little by little until you get a firm soft but not sticky dough. Wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 min.
Divide the dough into 6 equal sized balls and dust lightly with a little corn starch or flour. Flatten each ball in the pasta machine from the thickest slot until you reach the thinnest one - you can use your rolling pin, it will be a little harder but doable.
Cut each one into 4 long strips. Heat the oil for frying and start by rolling each strip around a fork in the oil until you finish - see video for a detailed description.Fry until they are golden brown then dunk in the syrup, sprinkle with some sesame seeds or any nuts or leave plain.
Serve those cute flowers with hot coffee or tea. Bon Appétit.
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Nikki
These look amazing. Could I make them the day before an event? What is the best way to store them?
Amira
Nikki, sorry for the late reply. Although best served hot and fresh, you can store them for a couple of days. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer to crisp them up again.
Euripidis
Hi Amira ,
Dunk in in hot or cold syrup ? How long?
Thank you
Amira
Cooled Syrup, the longer you put it there the more it absorbs the syrup.
Dayang Negara
Amira,
Thanks for the recipe n indeed the video was very well presented. The rose shape is very unique to me as I’ve not seen that in Malaysia. My late mum used to make that but no yeast in the ingredients. Thinly rolled n deep fried too. One fine day I will try your recipe. Tqvm
Amira
Thank you Dayang for your coment, please try it and let me know hoe it went with you.
Mona
These remind me of a recipe that my aunt used to make for us as kids, it was called Warda! I don't know if the recipe was the same or not. She used to use a special tool shaped as a flower and dip it in the dough before cooking it in oil. The dough though used to be little liquidy, I wonder if you're familiar with this one Amira!
Amira
Hmmm, I did not see this liquid warda recipe before... Deblah is more like a dough not in a liquid form. Anyways I will try to look for the other recipe for you Mona, but if I may, let me encourage you to try this.. it is delicious by all means.
Was the warda you mentioned dunked in simple syrup as well?
Chris
You are referring to rosettes. There is a patterned tool you dip in the batter and then in hot oil. Fried, the pastry is sprinkled with powdered sugar or syrup. Pinterest has lots of recipes!
Lana_SHON
Wow! Very interesting!
Amira
Thanks Lana, it is indeed a very interesting and good looking recipe :). I wish you can try it someday.
Evelyne CulturEatz
Spring? Yes on the calendar, btu we just got a tiny bit of snow this morning 🙁 But I think that is it now 🙂 I have tasted these, so delicious. They would look great served with the rosette apples!
Amira
Guess what Eve? We got snow today too !!!. But it will disappear by tomorrow I believe. This is a great suggestion hosting a dessert, roses like party:).
Karen
Absolutely beautiful Amira and the video is perfect to show how you roll and fry them.
Juliana
Oh Amira, what a beautiful dessert...I love the shape of it...no wonder you see lots of smiles when serving these...thanks for the recipe.
I hope you are having a lovely week 🙂
thatskinnychickcanbake
Wow, these are GORGEOUS!!! Perfect roses in dessert form!!!
Durriya
wow! a great recipe I made them turns out yum . I did it without the machine . Thanks for the wonderful recipe
Amira
Thanks Durriya for trying them out... I'm glad that you've liked it. Now you see how hard it was for me to let them go 🙂
Tunisian recipe
so tasty 🙂 my kids love it !!
Lail | With A Spin
There are gorgeous! I can't have enough of them. I don't have a paste machine. I wish we were neighbors to taste some.
Amira
You can make them without a pasta machine Lail but it will require some efforts to flatten the dough very thin. Thanks for your sweet comment.
vanillasugarblog
I could eat a bowl of these!
How did you manage only 2? LOL
These look SO GOOD!
Amira
This was the toughest decision I've ever made :). Thanks for passing by.
Balvinder
I don't mind exercising all my life if I have such drooling desserts to eat. Really these roses look and sound so pretty!
Amira
You will even love their crunching sound 🙂
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine
These are BEAUTIFUL and sounds amazing. I have the same treadmill problem as you do. And when I see recipes like this, I loose my resolve 🙂
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
I'm liking that you're using video. It's been on my list of things to do for two years. :/ Don't know why I procrastinate. These little pastries look divine. And thank goodness for working spouses to share the fat and calorie love. 😉
Mary
these look delectable! and a great video - lovely blog!
Mary
Amira
Thanks Mary, I hope to see you here often :).
Deepti
These look delicious and love the shape of the deblah! We make a very similar sweet in India but i have seen my mom always making them in big triagles….Lovely
Amira
Deepti, my friend Nazneen told me that too ... I hope I'll see the Indian version on your blogs guys. Thanks for passing by.
Liz
Your deblah are beautiful! And I bet they are scrumptious, too! I can see why you had to get them out of your house!!! Totally irresistible!
Amira
As I say always, it is better to share the calories :). Thanks Liz
Carolyn Jung
These look almost like rosebuds. So beautiful. And the fact that they are crisp and delicious only makes them even more irresistible.
Amira
They are irresistible Carolyn 🙂 thanks.
John@Kitchen Riffs
Wow, you ate only two of these? You have more will power than I do! These look so terrific. Treadmill, here I come!
Amira
My problem is that I have a severe heel spur that is really giving me a hard time 🙁 or else I would've ate the whole thing. Thanks John .
Coffee and Crumpets
I haven't tried these ones before but we do have something similar in Indian cooking and I know they taste wonderful!
Amira
Nazneen, I wish I'll see the Indian version on your blog soon. Thanks dear.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely
These look so yummy Amira! I don't mind an extra 10 minutes on the treadmill if it means I could have one of these tasty treats : )
Amira
Thanks Natalie, I hope they are only 10 minutes more 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods
These look absolutely beautiful!! I too see a flower 😀 I always wishes I had a pasta machine, now I know I need one!
Oh, I feel your pain. Every time I want to be a little healthier I get tempted but too many delicious looking deserts. Maybe if I ate them while on the treadmill it would negate their calories? Though that sounds like a choking hazard. 😀
Amira
Absolutely 🙂 only 30 minutes on the treadmill and all the calories are gone hahaha thanks Cidny for passing by.
Hotly Spiced
These are gorgeous. They look like little Spring roses. I haven't heard of them before but I'd love to try making them xx
Amira
Definitely for the season 🙂 thanks Charlie.
easyfoodsmith
The Deblah reminds me of something similar that is made in my husband's side of the family. They call it Khaaja and I love it. These look amazing and I am so tempted to reach out for a piece or two 🙂
Amira
Haven't heard of the Khaaja before but seems it is a delicious one too.
Norma | Allspice and Nutmeg
I wish I had a pasta machine, I would make these. So beautiful and fun!
Amira
They can be made without one Norma but needs extra effort which is good to burn the calories :). Thanks Norma.
Joanne T Ferguson
G'day! These look terrific Amira! These are now on my list to do! Thank you!
Cheers! Joanne
Amira
Your comments always brighten my posts Joanne, try them they are very very delicious.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
How gorgeous are these little delights?? In my head they taste crunchy and sweet but I'm going to have to make them just to be sure.
Amira
They are Maureen very crunchy and just the right sweetness. Thanks for passing by.
Fran @ G'day Souffle'
Thank goodness, I do have a pasta machine. I'll have to give these a try- they have a nice, special shape and they look a little like cinnamon buns!
Amira
Try them Fran I highly encourage you to do so. They are lovely.
Shady
Denise, I was about to say the same, seeing a "huge smile" on anyone's face. The beauty of this one is that the flower looks smiling when you look at it!
It is amazingly delicious, with that decent balance of sugar and dough.
Amira
Thanks Shady for your sweet comment :). I'm glad you liked them.
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You
Amira: This is my favorite treat of yours so far...because besides looking super delicious, it is absolutely gorgeous. I can see a huge smile on anyone's face when they are about to eat this.
Amira
Thanks Denise for your sweet words, you are always encouraging 🙂
Henna
These are soooo cool! I've never seen or heard of these, but they are so beautiful mA! I love the video too 🙂 It's funny because I was wondering how you got that shape, but then I watched the video and it seems so simple! Love it!
Amira
It was a little hard for me to explain how to roll them to make the flower shape so I figured out a small video will help :). Thanks Henna I hope you will try them.