El Khechkhach ( Arabic – الخشخاش ) or also called Oreillettes (French) is an Algerian sweet that is usually prepared to accompany coffee or tea. It is easy to make and is economic.
Cut into long strips ( longer than the one in the picture above).
To cook the Khechkhech take one strip of dough at the time and place about 3 inches of it in the hot oil while holding the rest vertically with the left hand.
Using a spoon with the right hand, throw oil on the small part that is in the oil.
Let slide the strip to cover the part that was already half cooked.
With a spoon, flip the fried part over the part of the strip and keep throwing oil.
Keep rolling with the spoon until all the strip of dough is rolled in the oil.
Flip over to fry the other side until golden. Drain then dip in honey or sugar syrup and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
For my homemade sugar syrup, please refer to my recipe here:
https://www.myexcellentdegustations.com/homemade-sugar-syrup/
In the picture above, I have used a round cookie cutter. I cut out 3 and plus discs of dough, then stack them together. I pressed the middle part with my finger to get the layers together.
I have used a skewer in the middle during frying to keep the layers together.
🇩🇿 Algerian Sweet – Oreillettes or El Khechkhech
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla powder
- 1/4 cup orange blossom water ( or less)
Syrup
- 1 cup honey or sugar syrup
Garnish
- About 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Frying
- Vegetable or canola oil
Instructions
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In a bowl, mix with hands flour, salt, vanilla and butter.
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Add orange blossom water gradually and mix without kneading until obtain a soft dough (not too soft though).
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Cover with plastic wrap and let rest on the counter for at least 1 hour.
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Divide the dough into 2 or 3 pieces.
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Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into thin sheets.
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Pass the sheets of dough in the pasta machine, starting with the large thickness to the smallest one.
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Use a pizza roll and cut large long strips. The length and the width of the strips depends on how big or large you want your Khechkhech to be (your choice).
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Place the strips of dough on a clean kichen towel.
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Heat oil over medium heat.
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Reduce the heat to medium low and start frying the Khechkhech.
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Take one strip of dough at the time and place about 3 inches of it in the hot oil while holding the rest vertically with the left hand.
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Using a spoon with the right hand, throw oil on the small part that is in the oil.
-
Let slide the strip to cover the part that was already half cooked.
-
With a spoon, flip the fried part over the part of the strip and keep throwing oil.
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Keep rolling with the spoon until all the strip of dough is rolled in the oil.
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Flip over to fry the other side until golden.
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Drain.
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Dip in honey or sugar syrup (please refer to my recipe link above a for light sugar syrup).
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Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
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Enjoy with tea or coffee.
Recipe Notes
- You can use water instead of orange blossom water.
- You can use Maple syrup instead of honey or sugar syrup.
- The total time in this recipe didn’t include the rest time of the dough.