Recipe: Sweet Semolina Namoura Yogurt Cake with Sticky Orange Syrup

Sweet Semolina Namoura Yogurt Cake with Sticky Orange Syrup

Happy & Healthy Cooking,

Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills

• bake :

  to cook food with dry heat, as in an oven.

• blend :

  to stir together two or more ingredients until just combined; blending is a gentler process than mixing.

• boil :

  to cook a food in liquid heated to the point of gas bubbles and steam forming (boiling point is 212 F at sea level).

• brush :

  to apply a liquid, like melted butter or marinade, to a pan or a food.

• squeeze :

  to firmly press or twist a food with fingers, hands, or a device to remove its liquid, like shredded potatoes, frozen and thawed spinach, or tofu.

• whisk :

  to beat or stir ingredients vigorously with a fork or whisk to mix, blend, or incorporate air.

What is Namoura?

• Namoura is a dense, egg-free cake from Lebanon made with semolina flour and yogurt and soaked in sweet sugar syrup. It is often cut into diamond shapes. Namoura batter is traditionally mixed with two clean hands. 
• In Egypt, a similar cake is called Basbousa, and in Greece and Turkey, a variation using eggs is called Ravani cake.

Let's Learn About Lebanon!

• Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, a country in Western Asia, borders Syria, Israel, and the Mediterranean Sea. 
• The Lebanese government is a Unitary Confessionalist Parliamentary Republic with a president, prime minister, and parliament. Political power is distributed among the country's various religious or confessional communities. 
• Almost 5.6 million people live in Lebanon, and its total land area is 4,036 square miles. In comparison, the US state of Connecticut is 4,849 square miles and has 2 million fewer residents.
• The capital of Lebanon is Beirut, and it is also the largest city in the country.
• The official language of Lebanon is Arabic, but there is also a sizable French-speaking population due to Lebanon's history with France. In addition, people speak Arabic, French, English, and Armenian. 
• Lebanon's history goes back at least 7,000 years. One of the world's oldest, continuously lived-in cities is Byblos, Lebanon. There is evidence that it has been inhabited since at least 5,000 BCE.  
• Around 3200 BCE, it became the home of the Phoenicians, who prospered there until about 539 BCE. The Romans conquered Lebanon in 64 BCE. The Roman Temple of Bacchus, built in the 2nd century CE, still stands to this day.
• In its history, Lebanon was conquered and occupied by other empires, including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Ottomans, and finally, the French, before achieving independence in 1943. This history created a very diverse population, and the government observes both Christian and Muslim holidays. 
• Lebanon has a Mediterranean climate, which means dry summers and mild, wet winters. However, Lebanon also has a mountain range home to six ski resorts. You can actually ski in the morning and then swim in the Mediterranean Sea on the same day if you want to!
• The tree on the country's flag is a Lebanon cedar, which used to cover most of the country's landscape. Over time, trees have suffered in Lebanon due to logging and forest fires, which are common during the long dry summers. Work is being done to add more trees. 
• Education is important in Lebanon. The country is home to 41 universities and consistently ranks high in overall education, especially science and math.
• Lebanese cuisine is not spicy yet is rich in flavor from a blend of fresh seasonings like parsley and mint and fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds. Garlic, lemon, and olive oil are commonly used in dishes, and hummus and flatbread, like pita, are almost always included with each meal.
• One of Lebanon's national dishes is "kibbeh," a meat pie made with spiced ground meat (often lamb) and bulgur (cracked wheat).
• Chicken, lamb, or beef "shawarma" is another popular dish, prepared by marinating the meat and stacking slices on a slow-moving rotisserie skewer. As the outside layers roast, they are shaved off and often used in sandwiches and pita. It is also served with rice and tomatoes or pickled turnips. Shawarma is typically served with a garlic sauce.

What is it like to be a kid in Lebanon? 

• Lebanese children speak Arabic. The family unit is important in Lebanon, and families are close-knit. Young people may have their grandparents living in the same household with them. 
• About 60 percent of the students in Lebanon attend private schools. Kids learn Arabic, English, and French in school. 
• In addition to the summer school holiday, some of the holidays that kids celebrate are Christmas, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.  
• A child there may play soccer or basketball, or they might snow ski, swim, or surf. 

• Kids eat various foods, including one that you may have tried, "hummus," a dip made with chickpeas, tahini (ground sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon, and garlic. Another is "baklava," a phyllo dough pastry filled with nuts and honey or syrup. Others may be unfamiliar to you, such as "tabbouleh," a salad made with tomatoes, onions, bulgur, parsley, and mint.