Tamina (dessert)

Tamina (Arabic: الطمينة) or “semolina cake,” is an ancient Algerian sweet consisting of toasted ground semolina, golden but not brown, butter, and melted honey. It is typically decorated with cinnamon, Pistachio or sugared almonds.

It's also called Tamena, Taqnata or Takneta is a delicious pastry, traditionally served in Algeria and Morocco on the occasion of a birth or Mawlid Ennabawi echarif (a religious holiday commemorating the birth of the Prophet of Islam Muhammad.) or it is served when celebrating the birth of a child but it can be prepared any day of the year.

There is another Algerian pastry called tamina (Rfiss Tousni), but this one is made with grilled semolina, butter and date paste (gharss). A delicious sweetness to accompany with a good Algerian mint tea or a latte at snack time. Tamina garnished with pine nuts for more delicacy.

Tamina is usually shared between a few people, as it is served in small plates and consumed with small spoons.

Ingredients

• 500 grams semolina (medium-grind)
• 250 g melted butter
• 250 g honey
• 1 tbsp orange blossom water (mazhar)
• Ground cinnamon (for decoration)
• Dragées, Pistachio or almonds (for final decoration)