Lebanese Sweets: Awwamat, Dough Balls in Syrup
Recipe for Soft, Delicate Dessert Balls that Will Melt in Your Mouth
Sep 6, 2009
The one thing about visiting an Arab home is the hospitality. The guest will and should be treated not as a guest, but as a member of the family. As the guest enters the door, they are greeted with the words, "ahlam wa-salam." Which means welcome to my home in Arabic? One of the ways to welcome the guest is with Arabic coffee and a sweet treat. One of the favorite treats, of course is Awwamat.
In the Arab society, hospitality is everything. It is traditional that a family will serve a lot more than a guest could eat, as not to cause shame to the family. Nothing would be more humiliating, then a guest to go away from the table hungry.
Awwamat is as traditional as Apple Pie is in America. Almost all bakery shops and street vendors in Arab countries carry this sweet treat, as it is so loved. Awwamat can be eaten hot or cold, but the favorite way is hot. There are many varieties of Awwamat and some recipes use 1/2 cup of corn flour instead of all whole wheat flour.
Dough Ball Ingredients
- 4 cups of plain flour
- 3 cups of water
- 5 cups of oil
- 2 teaspoons of instant yeast or 2 teaspoons of dry yeast dissolved in 2 tablespoons of warm water
Instructions to Prepare Dough Ball Batter:
- Dissolve the yeast and set aside, if using regular yeast. Let the yeast dissolve, for up to ten minutes.
- Sift together the salt and the flour and place in a large bowl, add in the water and the yeast and mix very well.
- Beat the batter well with hands until the batter becomes very smooth and pliable.
- Cover the batter now and let it set until the batter doubles in size. Around three to four hours.
- Beat batter again with hands to make sure no bubbles arrive.
Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups of water
- 2 tablespoons of orange blossom water
- 4 drops of lemon juice
- 5 cups of sugar
Instructions for Syrup
Place the ingredients in a pan and bring to boil. Let the mixture boil for one to two minutes only.
Cooking the dough balls
- Heat the oil in a heavy duty saucepan or large skillet
- Using a teaspoon, place a rounded teaspoon in the hot oil. (If difficult to drop the batter then place the spoon in water first.)
- After the balls float to the top of the oil and are brown, remove them and place on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
- Place the balls in the prepared syrup.
- Remove the balls promptly and serve.
Serve the Awwamat with some Arabic coffee and plenty of napkins. Awwamat is a Lebanese and Arab treat that will send the guests home smiling and wishing to return once more.
Resource
Discover Lebanon.Com/recipes
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