LAYALI LUBNAN
Layali Lubnan
It’s name directly translating to “ Lebanese Nights”.
Layali Lubnan is a ubiquitous and well loved dessert not only in Lebanon , but throughout the Middle East .
It’s base is a semolina pudding that’s then covered with cream and finally drizzled with an orange blossom and rose scented sugar syrup. Finally garnished with pistachios , almonds and rose petals.
It’s an easy and amazingly aromatic dessert , light and refreshing for summers.
LAYALI LUBNAM
INGREDIENTS
FOR SEMOLINA LAYER
1liter full cream milk
¾ cup semolina (Rava or sooji, unroasted)
½ cup of sugar
1tsp rose water
½ tsp vanilla essence
INSTRUCTIONS
heat a pan
Pour 1ltr milk in it
Add sugar and semolina
Cook on low flame until the mixture thickens.
Stir continuously
Once the semolina mixture thickens, add rose water and vanilla essence
Mix well
Grease a mould with ghee or butter( use a springform cake pan where the sides can be removed from the base
Pour the semolina mixture into the pan ( mix should be thick pouring consistency)
Smooth the top with a spatula
Refrigerate for 3-4 hours
SECOND LAYER
INGREDIENTS
3 tbsp of cornstarch dissolved in 150 ml of milk to form a slurry
350 ml of full cream milk
2 tbsp of sugar
2-3 tsp of rose water
½ tsp vanilla essence
½ cup cream cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Pour milk in a pan
add sugar
Add corn starch slurry and stir well
Heat the above mix until slightly thickened
Keep stirring continuously
Once the milk is thickened, add the cream cheese
Mix well
Add rose water and vanilla essence
Stir well
Pour this mixture over the first semolina layer
Flatten and smooth the surface with a spatula
Refrigerate the dish for 6-7 hours or overnight
SUGAR SYRUP
INGREDIENTS
1cup water
½ cup sugar
1tbsp lemon juice
1tsp rose water
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat small pan
Add sugar and water
Dissolve sugar completely
Add lemon juice
Add rose water
Mix well
Switch off the gas and cool the syrup
SERVE
Remove the dessert from the fridge
Loosen sides with a knife
Separate the cake pan base from the sides gently
Garnish the Layali Lubnam with chopped pistachios and rose petals
Your exotic Layali Lubnam is ready
Serve chilled drizzled with the sugar syrup