Fried Honey Orange Puff in Sesame, a Moroccan Dessert

Halwa Chabakiah, anyone...?

Receiving a big envelope addressed to me from my sister few days ago made me jump in the four corners of the house. For I knew exactly what was inside. It doesn’t enclose letters nor do photos from my family, for we constantly communicate through email. It was something else that I have been waiting for a long time.

Before I left Philippines long time ago I was enrolled in a Masteral degree program in my university but my several stints abroad and eventual circumstance to settle in France have hampered me in finishing that. Several deans come and go and my thesis remained the way I left it. When I received the news that all my classmates have all graduated even the one we least expected it was like a knife that hit me hurting me so badly. I knew I couldn’t just leave it like that. So three years ago I decided that no distance could stop me from finishing what I started. And I made it. Last year was my graduation day but I begged off to travel to Philippines due to my pregnancy. And early this year when I was there we have completely forgotten to talked about it for we were too occupied about my dad’s deteriorating health condition.

So, when I opened the envelope, I saw : there was my Masteral degree diploma. I felt like a heroine in any soap opera feeling triumphant after kicking the ass of all the villains. And the bonus part; I even graduated with distinction, Yay! Well how shall I describe it? I am just simply happy :-)

I know I merit a big chocolate cake for that but this simple and easy Moroccan dessert is a delicious replacement!

I am sending this to lovely Ruth of Ruth's Kitchen Experiments the creator of Bookmarked Recipes. Round-up is every Monday!

Angel's Finger(D'oigt d'Ange) Halwa Chabakia

This recipe is taken from the Oriental Patisserie cookbook from Librio. Halwa Chabakia are pastry dough like soft pretzels deep fried in oil. Best eaten with mint teas.

for about 20-25 pieces

125 g of butter (about 1 1/2 stick of butter)
50 g of flour
1 tablespoon of sugar
A pinch of salt
1 sachet of dry yeast (about one teaspoon)
15 cl of orange blossom water (about half a glass)
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Zest of one lemon
1 egg
1 glass of warm water
A pinch of saffron
Oil for frying
100 g of honey
20 cl of orange blossom water (about a glass)
2 tablespoons of sesame seeds

In a bowl mix the flour, sugar, salt and dry yeast. Make a small well in the middle and pour your melted butter, orange 15 cl of blossom water, lemon juice, orange zest and your egg. Let your saffron infuse in your warm water. Add this water little by little to your dough as you work on it. You need not to add all the water, you will stop until you reach a smooth homogenous texture. Put a flour on your working table and flatten your dough. Make small rectangular shapes of 10x6 cm of about 1mm of thickness.

how to fold them: Fold inwards the longest sides. Then turn it over fold again inwards the two sides to form this finger like shape. Put them one by one in your boiling oil and fry them for about 5-6 minutes until they are golden brown. Combine your honey with your orange blossom water and mix them well. You will dip your fried pastry on this syrup once cooked. And sprinkle them with sesame seeds before serving.

I am warning you this is extremy delicious!

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I am not sure that Halwa Chabakiah is the real name of this dessert, for that's the closest one I googled up.

You can also try:

Beignets, French Donuts