A traditional Qatari sweet made from toasted flour cooked with butter, sugar, saffron, and cardamom until it forms a rich, crumbly, halva-like confection. Simple ingredients, extraordinary flavor.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp saffron, ground
1 tsp cardamom powder
1 tbsp rose water
1/2 cup warm water
Crushed pistachios for garnish
Instructions
1Toast the flour in a dry heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly for 10 minutes until it turns golden brown and smells nutty.
2Add butter and stir until the flour absorbs it completely, forming a sandy, fragrant mixture.
3Dissolve sugar and saffron in warm water with rose water. Pour into the flour mixture gradually, stirring vigorously.
4Continue cooking and stirring for 5 minutes until the mixture pulls together into a thick, cohesive mass.
5Press into a serving plate, score into diamond shapes, and garnish with crushed pistachios. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Did You Know?
Khabees is one of the few Qatari sweets made entirely without eggs or leavening — its rich flavor comes purely from toasted flour and butter.