Ma'amoul (Arabic: معمول maʿmūl [mæʕˈmuːl]) is a filled butter cookie made with semolina flour. It is popular throughout the Arab world. The filling can be made with dried fruits like figs, dates, or nuts such as pistachios or walnuts, and occasionally almonds.[1]
 | |
| Type | Dessert |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Middle East |
| Main ingredients | Semolina, dates, pistachios or walnuts |
Ma'amoul is usually made during the holidays of Easter, and a few days before Eid (then stored to be served with Arabic coffee and chocolate to guests who come during the holiday).[1][2] It is popular throughout the Arab world,[3] especially in the Arabian Peninsula.[4]
They may be in the shape of balls, domed or flattened cookies. They can either be decorated by hand or be made in special wooden moulds called tabe.[5]
Variations
editThe cookies can be filled with nuts (commonly used nuts are pistachios, almonds or walnuts) or dried fruits, most commonly orange-scented date paste.[6]
In Turkey, maamouls are referred to as Kombe and the filling usually consists of crushed walnuts, ginger and cinnamon.[7]
Etymology
editThe Arabic word (معمول maʿmūl [mæʕˈmuːl]) is derived from the Arabic verb ʿamala (عمل, meaning "to do").[8]
Customs
editWhile ma'amoul are consumed all-year long, they are most associated with Eid Al-Fitr or iftar as meals in celebration for the ending of Ramadan's fasting.[9] For Christian Arabs as well, ma'amoul is also part of the Easter celebrations.[5]
Ma'amoul was traditionally served by the Sephardic Jewish community of Jerusalem during Purim. It was described as the "Sephardic Hamantash".[10]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b Robertson, Amy E. (11 April 2017). "Ma'amoul: An Ancient Cookie That Ushers In Easter And Eid In The Middle East". The Salt. NPR. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Ma'amoul: The Sweet Tradition of Eid". The Irresistible Magazine. Al Rifai. 7 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ Obayda, Gloria (2010). Sweets And Desserts Of The Middle East. Aribasteel. ISBN 9780955268144.
- ^ "Ma'amoul pie, or how to leave well enough alone". At the Immigrant's Table. 3 February 2014. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ^ a b Helou, Anissa (2015). Sweet Middle East: Classic Recipes, from Baklava to Fig Ice Cream. Photographs by Linda Pugliese. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780594094197.
- ^ Goldstein, Joyce (2002). Saffron Shores: Jewish Cooking of the Southern Mediterranean. Chronicle Books. p. 169. ISBN 9780811830522.
- ^ Warren, Ozlem. "Tag: variations of ma'amoul". Ozlem's Turkish Table. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "معمول". Almaany.
- ^ Webb, Lois Sinaiko; Cardella, Lindsay Grace (2011). Holidays of the World Cookbook for Students (2nd ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 383. ISBN 9780313383946.
- ^ Ṭalbi-Ḳadmi, Raḥel (1996). Rasheliḳah = Rashelika : niḥoaḥ ha-miṭbaḥ ha-Yerushalmi Sefaradi ha-mesorati : ḥamishah dorot shel matkonim mishpaḥtiyim mesoratiyim רשליקה = Rashelika : ניחוח המטבח הירושלמי ספרדי המסורתי : חמישה דורות של מתכונים משפחתיים מסורתיים [Rashelika: the aroma of the traditional Spanish Jerusalem kitchen: five generations of traditional family recipes]. Jerusalem: O. Raikh, Y. Ḳadmi. pp. 82–87. LCCN 98825100.
Further reading
edit- Farah, Madelain, Lebanese Cuisine: More than 200 Simple, Delicious, Authentic Recipes: London: 2001 ISBN 978-1-56858-179-8
- Smouha, Patricia, Middle Eastern Cooking, London 1955 ASIN: B0000CJAHX
- Roden, Claudia, A New Book of Middle Eastern Food: London 1986 ISBN 0-14-046588-X
- Roden, Claudia, The Book of Jewish Food: New York 1997, London 1999 ISBN 0-14-046609-6
- Uvezian, Sonia, Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen: A Culinary Journey Through Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan: 2004 ISBN 0-9709716-8-0, ISBN 978-0-9709716-8-5
- Joan Nathan, The Jewish Holiday Kitchen: New York 1988 ISBN 0-8052-0900-X
- Joan Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cookbook: 2004 ISBN 0-8052-4217-1, ISBN 978-0-8052-4217-1
External links
edit- "Maamoul – Traditional Middle Eastern Cookies". www.libanaissweets.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
