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mqaret

Date Filled Pastries Imqaret

Course Dessert
Cuisine Maltese, North African
Servings 12 portions

Ingredients
  

For the dough

  • 14 oz flour
  • 3 1/2 oz butter
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp aniseed

For the filling

  • 1 2/3 cups dates
  • 5 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp aniseed
  • 1 tbsp orange blossom water
  • 1 orange rind

Instructions
 

For the dough

  • Sift the flour and baking soda, in a bowl.
  • Rub the butter into the flour until mixture turns into breadcrumbs. Add the sugar and mix well.
  • Bind the mixture with the water. Leave the pastry to rest for 30 minutes.

For the filling

  • Add all the ingredients for the filling in a saucepan and stir over low heat. Simmer until it becomes thick.
  • Remove from heat and leave the mixture to cool.

For assembly

  • Roll the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 10cm wide strip.
  • Put the filling along the middle of the strip of pastry. Moisten the edges with some water.
  • Fold the pastry over the date filling and press the edges tightly together.
  • With a sharp knife, cut diagonally across the pastry to form diamond shaped 5 cm long imqaret.
  • Deep fry them in boiling oil until they turn golden brown. Drain and serve hot or cold as you prefer.
Keyword dates, imqaret, maqrut, tamal