🇦🇪 Emirati Cuisine

Lgeimat bil Jibn

Cheese-Filled Dumplings

Prep Time 45 min

Servings 6

Difficulty Medium

Calories 284 kcal

Crispy fried dough balls stuffed with stretchy cream cheese, drizzled with date syrup. A modern twist on the classic luqaimat, combining salty cheese with sweet syrup.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 packet instant yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 cup warm water
Pinch of saffron in 1 tbsp warm water
1/2 tsp cardamom
Cream cheese or akkawi cheese, cubed small
Oil for deep frying
Date syrup (dibs) for drizzling
Sesame seeds

Instructions

1 Mix flour, yeast, sugar, cardamom, saffron water, and warm water into a thick batter. Rest 1 hour until bubbly.
2 Heat oil to 170°C for deep frying.
3 Take a small ball of batter, press a cube of cheese into the center, and seal.
4 Drop carefully into hot oil. Fry until golden and puffed, turning for even color.
5 Remove with a slotted spoon and drain briefly on paper towels.
6 Pile on a plate, drizzle generously with date syrup and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Did You Know?

This cheese-filled version went viral on social media in the UAE and is now a Ramadan food truck staple across Dubai.