Lebanese · dessert

Namoura (Semolina Cake)

Namoura (Semolina Cake) reads sweetness 7.2, nutty 5.2 and richness 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Lebanese dessert, about 55 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 2.8 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 7.9 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 5.8 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 1.4 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 6.7 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 1.5 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Sweetness 7.2 · Nutty 5.2 · Richness 5.0 · Citrus 4.9 · Sourness 2.8 · Funk & Ferment 2.6 · Fruity 2.6 · Floral 1.5 · Umami 1.3 · Earthy 1.2 · Bitterness 0.8 · Salinity 0.5

What's in it (8)

• 2 cups coarse semolina
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 12 whole almonds
• 1 cup sugar syrup
• 1 tbsp orange blossom water

Time & effort: about 55 min (25 min active) · effort: easy

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 439.6 kcal, 14 g protein, 27.9 g fat, 38.5 g carbs

Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

1. Mix semolina with yogurt, melted butter, sugar, and baking powder into a thick batter.
2. Pour into a greased pan, score into diamonds, and press an almond into each piece.
3. Bake at 180C until golden.
4. Soak immediately with orange blossom syrup.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Pasta Frola — Argentine
• Tsoureki (Sweet Easter Bread) — Greek
• Makowiec (Poppy Seed Roll) — Polish
• Kürtőskalács (Chimney Cake) — Hungarian
• Baklava (Turkish) — Turkish

Keep reading: what sweetness, nutty, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.