Arabic recipesSweets
Layali Lubnan: Lebanese Nights Semolina & Ashta Dessert
Layali Lubnan, meaning Lebanese Nights, is a chilled no-bake Levantine dessert made of a silky semolina milk pudding scented with mastic and orange blossom water. Topped with thick clotted cream (qishta), crushed pistachios, and fragrant sugar syrup, it slices cleanly for family gatherings and Ramadan tables.
Also known as:Lebanese Nights puddingLayali Libnan semolina cakeSemolina and qishta dessert
Servings8
Prep time15 min
Cook time15 min
Ingredients
Add ingredients to cart- 1 litre whole milk
- 165 g fine semolina (farina / smeed naem)
- 3 tbsp sugar for the semolina base
- 4 small tears Greek mastic gum, crushed with 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water and 1 tsp rose water
- 340 g thick Arabic cream (qishta / ashta) for the topping
- 80 g peeled pistachios, coarsely chopped
- For the syrup (ater): 200 g sugar, 120 ml water, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp orange blossom water
Preparation Steps
- 1Simmer the syrup sugar and water for 7 minutes, stir in lemon juice and orange blossom water, and set aside until completely cold.
- 2Whisk cold milk, fine semolina, and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly until thick and gently bubbling.
- 3Fold in the ground mastic, orange blossom water, and rose water during the final minute, then pour immediately into a glass dish (around 20 by 30 cm) and smooth the top.
- 4Let the semolina base stand at room temperature for 20 minutes until set to the touch, then gently spread the qishta cream over the surface.
- 5Chill covered for at least 2 hours, scatter generously with chopped pistachios just before serving, and drizzle each square with cold syrup.
