A rich, dense pudding made from dates, bread crumbs, cardamom, and ghee, baked until firm and sliced into squares. A traditional Omani dessert that transforms simple pantry staples into a decadent sweet.
Ingredients
2 cups pitted dates, chopped
1 cup dry bread crumbs
3 tbsp ghee, melted
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp honey
1/4 cup warm water
Pinch of saffron
Instructions
1Soak dates in warm water until soft, then mash into a thick paste.
2Mix date paste with bread crumbs, melted ghee, cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron.
3Press mixture firmly into a greased baking dish.
4Bake at 170C for 25 minutes until firm and slightly golden on top.
5Cool, drizzle with honey, cut into squares, and serve.
Did You Know?
Maldouf was historically made as a way to use stale bread and overripe dates, turning food that might otherwise be wasted into a prized dessert.