Najdi

Najdi Asida with Dates

Traditional Najdi asida made with whole wheat flour, date puree, and wild ghee—a warm and nutritious winter breakfast.

45 min 4 servings 420 cal/serving Medium 6 views
Najdi Asida with Dates

Instructions

  1. Preparing the Date Puree
    Place the pitted dates and warm water in a blender and blend thoroughly until smooth and homogeneous, then strain the mixture through a sieve to discard any remaining skins. · 2 min
  2. Toasting the Flour
    Toast the whole wheat flour in a dry, deep pot over low heat for 5 minutes until aromatic without letting its color darken significantly, then set aside to cool slightly. · 5 min
  3. Heating and Seasoning the Liquid
    Pour the strained date mixture into a heavy-bottomed pot, add the pinch of salt, along with half of the cardamom and black pepper, and heat the mixture until it comes to a gentle simmer. · 3 min
  4. Incorporating the Flour
    Add the flour gradually by the spoonful while whisking rapidly and continuously using a wire whisk or a sturdy wooden spoon to prevent lumps from forming. · 5 min
  5. Cooking and Kneading
    Reduce the heat to very low, cover the pot, and let the asida cook while stirring vigorously every 5 minutes to ensure the flour is fully cooked and does not stick, for about 25 minutes until it thickens and becomes smooth and glossy. · 25 min
  6. Serving and Garnishing
    Pour the asida into a deep serving dish, smooth the surface with a spoon greased with a little ghee while forming a well in the center, then pour the wild ghee into the well, sprinkle with the remaining cardamom and black pepper, and serve hot. · 2 min

Nutrition / serving

420
cal
6.8
protein g
82
carbs g
10.5
fat g

Chef's tips

The secret to a successful asida lies in continuous, vigorous stirring (tamseed) over very low heat to prevent clumping and ensure the flour cooks completely. More water may be added if the texture appears thicker than desired before it is fully done.