Key Parameters
Temperature
80°C
20°C - 90°C
Time
1 hour
30 minutes - 2 hours
Equipment
Heavy-bottomed saucepanCandy thermometerFine-mesh strainerGlass bottles with tight-fitting lidsCheesecloth or coffee filters
Steps
- 1.
Zainab Fingers (Lebanon) (Beirut): Base dessert often served with clotted cream (ashta)
- 2.
Balah el-Sham (Egypt) (Cairo): Date-shaped version with cardamom-infused syrup
- 3.
Shaybiyat (Iraq) (Baghdad): Layered pastry adaptation with walnut filling
The Science
Primary Reaction
Maillard Reaction