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Imqaret: recipe illustration
Snacks & baking

Imqaret

Imqaret is a Maltese sweet made of semolina dough and dates, fried and sometimes glazed with honey. Crisp on the outside and soft inside, it is enjoyed at markets and popular festivals.

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Ingredients

Ingredients

Glaçage

Spices & seasoning

Optional extras

Instructions

  1. Cook the dates with 100 ml of water over low heat for 10 minutes, until you have a smooth paste, then mash them with a potato masher.
  2. In a bowl, mix the semolina, salt and cinnamon, then rub in the olive oil with your fingertips.
  3. Add the orange blossom water, the orange zest and about 150 ml of lukewarm water to get a soft, smooth dough.
  4. Roll out half the dough into a rectangle about 1 cm thick, then spread the date paste over it.
  5. Cover with the remaining dough, seal the edges and cut into diamonds about 5 cm across.
  6. Heat the frying oil to 170 °C and fry the imqaret in small batches for 4 to 5 minutes, until golden.
  7. Drain them on kitchen paper.
  8. Warm the honey with the water, then quickly dip each imqaret in this warm syrup before serving.

Variations and tips

Oven version. Brush the diamonds with oil and bake at 190 °C for 25 minutes for a lighter version.

Spiced dates. Add a spoonful of orange marmalade or a pinch of ground clove to the date filling.

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Original Ecomely recipe.