Basbousa
If you've got fine semolina, desiccated coconut and plain yogurt, you're most of the way to this Middle Eastern dessert: about 60 minutes of cooking across 6 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and saucepan. At medium difficulty across 6 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- First make the syrup by simmering the sugar, water and lemon juice for about 8 to 10 minutes until slightly thickened, stir in the blossom water, then leave it to cool completely.
- In a bowl combine the semolina, desiccated coconut, sugar and baking powder, then stir in the yogurt and melted butter to form a thick, spreadable batter and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Spread the batter evenly into a greased square baking tin, smooth the top, and score it into diamonds or squares, pressing an almond into the centre of each piece.
- Bake in an oven preheated to 180C for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is deep golden and the cake is set and springs back lightly when pressed.
- As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, ladle the cooled syrup evenly over the hot surface so it soaks in, listening for the gentle sizzle.
- Let the basbousa stand for at least 30 minutes to absorb the syrup and firm up, then cut along the scored lines and serve at room temperature.
You'll use: Oven · Saucepan
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
What to serve with Basbousa
- Chicken Shawarma Chicken
- Kofta Beef
- Labneh Starter
- Manakish Vegan
Tips & common questions
How long does Basbousa take to make?
About 60 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 11 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Basbousa vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Basbousa is an original Middle Eastern recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Revane.jpg by Biser Todorov, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.