Algerian Basboussa - Semolina Cake With Syrup

Ingredients

For the Basboussa

• 1 1/2 cups of coarse semolina
• 1 cup plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 cup unsweetened dried shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup sunflower oil
• 1 lemon, zest of (finely grated)
• 1 cup yogurt
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring

For the Syrup

• 3 cups water
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange flower water (add a little more if you like it very fragrant)
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

To Decorate

• blanched whole almonds

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 180°C Grease a large baking dish (approx. 11" x7").

2. 2

   In a pan, place the sugar & water from the 'Syrup Ingredients', bring to the boil then simmer until you have a pale golden colour. Remove from the heat & stir in the lemon juice & the orange flower water. Set aside to cool, you can also store this syrup in the fridge until you need to use it.

3. 3

   Place all the wet ingredients in a large bowl & using a hand mixer, mix until creamy. Add the dry ingredients a little at a time & mix well.

4. 4

   Pour into your baking dish & level off the surface with the back of a dessert spoon or palett knife. With a small knife, score the surface into equal squares or diamonds & place a blanced almond in the centre of each square / diamond.

5. 5

   Bake in the oven until golden - this will take approximately 30-40 minutes.

6. 6

   Remove from the oven & cut through the scored squares / diamonds. Pour the syrup over the top & allow the Basboussa to soak up the syrup before serving. It is best to leave it for at least 2 hours for best results.