Arnīn and Khubz al-Abāzīr (Filled Nut Pastry and Spiced Bread)

Ingredients

• raṭl flour
• ūqiyya (per raṭl flour) fresh sesame oil
• almonds or pistachios
• fine perfumed sugar
• dates
• poppy seed
• raṭl flour
• ūqiyya (per raṭl flour) sesame oil
• raṭl hulled sesame

Instructions

1. For arnīn: use three ūqiyya of fresh sesame oil (shīraj) per raṭl of flour and form into discs.
2. Fill the cavity with almonds or pistachios and finely pounded perfumed sugar; gather and seal, shaping with a round-box mold (ḥuqq), and bake in the oven.
3. Optionally fill instead with pitted dates kneaded with a little rosewater, sesame, and roasted poppy seed (khashkhāsh).
4. For khubz al-abāzīr (spiced bread): use four ūqiyya sesame oil and an eighth of a raṭl of hulled sesame per raṭl of flour; knead well, bake in the oven, and remove.