Moroccan · dessert

Sellou (Sfouf)

Sellou (Sfouf) reads sweetness 7.2, floral 5.0 and richness 4.6 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Moroccan dessert, about 30 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

• Umami & Savory — 3.7 / 10
• Sweet & Fruity — 7.5 / 10
• Sour & Bright — 0.4 / 10
• Bitter & Earthy — 1.5 / 10
• Rich & Fat — 5.9 / 10
• Aromatic & Spice — 5.4 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Sweetness 7.2 · Floral 5.0 · Richness 4.6 · Nutty 4.4 · Warm Spice 3.5 · Funk & Ferment 3.2 · Salinity 3.0 · Herbaceous 1.7 · Earthy 1.4 · Umami 1.3 · Bitterness 1.1 · Fruity 0.8

What's in it (10)

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sesame seeds
• 1 cup blanched almonds
• 2 tbsp anise seeds
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup smen, melted
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds
• 1/4 tsp salt

Time & effort: about 30 min (20 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 409.6 kcal, 10.7 g protein, 19.3 g fat, 53.6 g carbs

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

How it's cooked (4 steps)

1. Toast the flour in a dry pan until nutty and golden, then separately toast the sesame seeds and fry the almonds until golden.
2. Grind the sesame seeds and almonds to a fine powder and toast the anise and fennel.
3. Combine all dry ingredients with powdered sugar and cinnamon, then work in melted butter and enough honey to bind the mixture.
4. Pack into a mold or shape by hand and store at room temperature.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

• Loukoumades (Honey Puffs) — Greek
• Dabo (Ethiopian Celebration Bread) — Ethiopian
• Cape Malay Koesisters — South African · Cape Malay
• Paprenjak (Honey and Black Pepper Biscuits) — Croatian
• Cornmeal Porridge — Jamaican

Keep reading: what sweetness, floral, 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.