Desserts > Middle Eastern Recipes > Aish As-Saraya >
Saudi Arabian sweet bread
1 round loaf French bread
4 C sugar
1 C water
2 LBS (or 35 oz.) Ashta
1/2 C orange blossom water*
2 C pistachio nuts, ground
Remove crust from French bread round; process in a blender to form crumbs. In a saucepan, combine sugar and water. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves. Remove one cup of mixture; add to a separate saucepan and stir over medium heat until it becomes brown in color. Return browned mixture to first saucepan, combining with remaining sugar and water solution; stir. Pour mixture over breadcrumbs. Knead breadcrumbs; shape into a ball and set aside. Roll half the ball between two sheets of aluminum foil to a 1/2-inch thickness. Remove foil and turn out onto a large serving dish. Sprinkle with orange blossom water. Smooth down with hand or a large spatula. Place Ashta on top, patting down with a spoon. Repeat process with other half-ball. Refrigerate for two hours, or until well-chilled. Serve cold, garnished with ground pistachio nuts.
*Note: Orange Blossom water can be found at Asian or Middle Eastern specialty stores or purchased online at Amazon, Cranberry Lane and Hashems, among others. For a substitute, use 2 drops of orange oil or 2 teaspoons of orange-flavored liqueur (such as Triple Sec, which is not in accordance with Islamic Dietary Laws regarding alcohol).
Similar recipe: Esh Asaraya (Qatari sweet bread with cream).
Related Link:
Food Fare Culinary Collection: Arabic Cookery
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