Do you love Haresa? Do you love dates? If so then you can try this luscious, mouth watering recipe.

Haresa is a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cake that originated in Egypt and is called Basbousa in Egyptian dialect; whereas it is called Haresa in the Syrian dialect which means (mashed or crushed). The semolina cake is featured in Middle Eastern as well as Greek cuisines.

It is the favorite traditional dessert in the Syrian cuisine for all occasions especially during Ramadan after Eftar. It is very easy to cook harissa, it may look like a simple cake but its unique flavor and texture will make this plate your favorite dessert. It is made from semolina and is sweetened with orange flower syrup in addition to some drops of rose water. The result is a delicious moist flavored semolina cake.

This recipe is perfect, just change the coconut flakes with the dates.

Tender beef is slowly cooked with green beans, tomatoes, and cinnamon, onions, garlic, and spices to create a delicious Syrian dish served traditionally over rice pilaf.

It is an easy and healthy dish for your busy days if you have already cut green beans.

There are two ways to cook green beans either as a dish eaten with meat and rice or its vegetarian version where the beans are cooked in oil.

If fresh beans aren’t available, you could substitute frozen green beans.

Desert truffles (or kamah) grow in the Mediterranean, Middle East and North Africa.  This delicacy more closely resembles the flavor of  an earthy mushroom with the texture of artichoke and the shape of a potato.

Every March, you’ll find Syrians talking about how much kamah came into the markets that season. They say that the abundance of desert truffles is at the whim of early autumn thunderstorms.  Kamah comes from microscopic spores underneath the desert surface. The presence of lightning causes rain in October and November to have higher levels of nitrogen. This element in the sand causes the truffles to form. When the weather gets warmer, they cause cracks on the sand’s surface, indicating there are truffles underneath.

Kamah is eaten in a variety of ways. It can be grilled, made into stew with meat, served with a yogurt sauce or made into a salad with garlic.

It is nutritious with 9% proteins,13% carbohydrates,1% fats plus minerals like phosphorus,sodium,calcium,potassium.

It contains Vitamin A, B-1, B-2 plus amino acids that are vital for the body.

Syrian coffee is a rich, strong simmered brew that is typified by a froth on top and a sediment of smooth, fine grounds settled on the bottom of the cup.

The coffee used in making Syrian coffee, is dark roasted and very finely ground. Sometimes ground cardamom is added for flavor. Many people like their coffee without sugar (ahwe sada). Coffee is served in small cups and saucers,  like espresso cups.

No morning or gathering is complete in Syria without a cup of coffee ( fnjan ahwe) to boost the day, and often it is served with a piece of Syrian sweet as well.

Ingredients

- 1 cup of water, measured by the same espresso cup you are serving with

- 2 teaspoon coffee

- A pinch of ground cardamom (optional)

- Sugar (optional, on the side)

Arabian delight chocodate recipe is the best thing you can do with dates in Syria. It is very common during the holy month of Ramadan

Chocodates are a very delicious treat and snack and this recipe is very easy to prepare and the best part is that you can make it as you like so let your imagination go wild. You can decorate it with milk chocolate ribbons, maybe rolling the dates before freezing them in some coconut flakes, adding orange blossom water to the melted chocolate, and adding some ground cardamom if you like.

You can stuff some dates with only one almond and others with two.This depends on the size of the dates. You can also stuff it with your favorite nut or combination like pistachios.