Best 5 Farina Squares Recipes

BASBOUSA: ALMOND COCONUT SEMOLINA CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the butter in a small bowl and melt in the microwave. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine together the sugar and yogurt. Now add in the semolina, baking powder and milk. Finally stir in the melted butter, and let the mixture sit briefly so that the butter is absorbed.
• Transfer the semolina mixture into a lightly greased 9"-round cake pan or baking dish. Bake in the 350 degrees F-heated oven for about 40-45 minutes. If necessary, broil ever so briefly so that the top of the basbousa gains color. Watch carefully. When ready, remove from oven.
• While the cake is baking, prepare the cinnamon simple syrup. In a small sauce pan or pot, combine the sugar, water and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Turn heat to low and let cook for a few minutes until the syrup thickens. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool completely, then remove the cinnamon stick.
• As soon as the basbousa is removed from the oven, pour the cool syrup on the hot basbousa. Let cool completely; syrup must be absorbed into the cake. For best result, let it sit for 1 hour before serving.
• When ready to serve, top the cake with the coconut chips and the coconut and shaved almonds. Slice and enjoy!

FARINA SQUARES

Steps:

• 1. In a double boiler, add milk and sugar. When it comes to a boil, stir in the farina or (polenta) and cook 20 minutes until thick. Keep an eye on this step to guard against the mixture scorching...so stir frequently.
• 2. Beat together: egg yolks, grated lemon,lemon juice, almond extract and whiskey. Add this to the first mixture and cook another 10 minutes. Stirring frequently. I would recommend you temper the egg mixture before adding it all into the hot farina ,mixture. You could end up with scrambled eggs if you don't. so add a small amount of the hot milk into the egg mixture before adding the rest in.
• 3. Pour this mixture into a buttered pyrex baking pan. a 9X12 should work. Let this rest for 10 minutes, to set up. When they are firm enough to work with...
• 4. Cut into squares and dip each in beaten eggs and then in finely chopped white bread crumbs. fry a few at a time.
• 5. sprinkle the fried farina squares with powdered sugar and enjoy.

NAMOORA (BASBOOSA)

Steps:

• Line a 9x13-inch glass baking dish with aluminum foil and generously butter the foil. Spread the tahini evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan in a thin layer.
• Mix together farina cereal with 1 1/2 cup of sugar and baking powder in a bowl. Mix in the yogurt and 1 tablespoon of softened butter gently with your hands until the dough is smooth. Spread dough out into the prepared baking dish. Pat the surface smooth. Cover the dish with foil, and allow to stand at room temperature for 2 hours. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 squares; push an almond half gently into the top of each square.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until the dessert is set and the top is lightly golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• While the dessert is baking, make the syrup. Place 2 cups of sugar into a saucepan with the water, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Stir in the lemon juice, and boil the syrup for 5 minutes; stir in butter and orange flower water until combined. Pour the hot syrup over the dessert as soon as it comes out of the oven. Let cool for 1 to 2 hours to let the syrup absorb before serving.

FRIED CREAM OF WHEAT A K A THE FARINA PROJECT

Steps:

• *Note: the directions on the back of the Cream of Wheat box indicate you can substitute milk for all (or part of) the water. I've prepared the recipe using water only and with water/milk especially if there is milk on hand that is close to the pull date.
• In a pan, bring water (and salt if using) to the boil (or almost to the boil if using milk) and stir in 3/4 cup Cream of Wheat. Stir with fork or wire whisk to break up any lumps.
• Lower heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring every minute or so. Note: Cooking time may vary depending on which type of Cream of Wheat is used.
• While still hot, pour the cooked cereal into a 9x11-inch buttered casserole dish.
• Let cool, cover, then place in refrigerator overnight.
• Next day, cut the farina up into 16-20 slices. (Another method is to carefully invert the casserole dish over the skillet. The farina will slip out of the casserole dish easily. This is trickier to do though. I find Option A much easier.).
• Place farina meal in a shallow plate or on a piece of wax paper.
• Lightly dredge each slice in farina meal.
• In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter on medium heat.
• Add some of the farina slices to the skillet but do not crowd.
• Fry on both sides until golden brown and crispy.
• Cook the slices in batches, adding more butter as needed.
• Arrange on platter and serve with butter and warm maple syrup.

FARINA BARS (LOW FAT)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, applesauce, sugar and honey.
• Add in the lemon zest.
• Combine the cream of wheat, baking powder and cardamom and then stir into the creamed mixture.
• Add and mix in the yogurt and egg whites.
• If over mixed, the bars will fall during baking.
• Spread the mixture evenly into a greased 9x13 inch pan.
• Bake at 350 for 45 to 55 minutes or until the edges are brown. Cool and cut into bars.