Ba-theeth

Date crumble. An Arab favourite, this dish is from the UAE and is served regularly with gah-wa (Arabian coffee).

Ingredients

• 4 cups wheat flour
• 2¾ cups she - ripe sticky dates
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1¼ cups toasted sesame seeds
• ¾ cup samen

Directions

1. Brown the flour in a skillet, stirring to avoid burning.
2. Stone the dates and pull them apart with your hand.
3. Place in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle the cardamom and sesame seeds over.
4. Gradually add the samen (oil) and browned flour, a little at a time, working the ingredients in with the fingertips.
5. When all is well blended, the mixture should resemble large biscuit crumbs.
6. Store in an airtight container and serve on a fou-alla.
7. The mixture will keep for a week.