Turkish kalburabasti are small cookies filled with ground walnuts and soaked in sugar syrup.
SERVES: MAKES 15
PREP TIME: 25 M
COOK TIME: 45 M
TOTAL TIME: 1 H 10 M
Ingredients
Sugar syrup:
- 450 ml water
- 350g granulated sugar
- juice of 1/4 lemon or orange
Dough:
- 100g unsalted butter, melted
- 60 ml yogurt
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1/4 orange or lemon juice
- 1/2 orange or lemon zest, grated
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 235g all-purpose flour
- 35g fine semolina
- 8g vanilla sugar
- 8g baking powder
- pinch salt
For the filling and garnish:
- 50g walnuts, chopped
- 2 tbsp ground pistachios or walnuts
Method
1. To make the sugar syrup: In a heavy pan, stir together the water and sugar. Allow to a simmer for about 20 minutes over medium heat. Add the lemon or orange juice and remove from the heat. Allow to cool completely.
2. Preheat the oven to 180 C / 355 F and grease a baking tray.
3. To make the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the dough. Knead until a smooth ball of dough begins to form.
4. Divide the dough into 15 balls.
Fill with ground walnuts and join the folds at the ends to seal them. Model slightly to give it an oval shape. Place on the greased baking plate and repeat with the remaining balls.
6. With the help of a knife, draw a grid pattern on the surface of the cookies.
7. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until golden to deep brown.
8. Remove the cookies from the oven and let sit for 2 minutes.
9. Pour the cooled sugar syrup all over the cookies. Let stand in the syrup for 1 hour.
10. Garnish with ground pistachios or walnuts and serve.
