Basbousa
Semolina cake soaked in citrus syrup.
Ingredients
- 300 g Semolina (rava)
- 250 g Yogurt
- 250 g Sugar
- 120 g Butter
- 50 g Almonds (optional)
- 1 Lemon (optional)
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a bowl, mix the semolina, yoghurt, half the sugar, and the melted butter into a thick, spreadable batter.
- Spread the batter evenly into a greased tray, score the top into diamonds, and press an almond into each piece.
- Bake until golden and set, about 30 minutes.
- While the cake bakes, simmer the remaining sugar with water and a squeeze of lemon in a small pan into a light syrup, then set aside to cool completely.
- Pour the cool syrup evenly over the hot cake and let it soak in fully before cutting and serving.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Basbousa
Basbousa is the semolina cake that turns up across the Middle East, the eastern Mediterranean, and North Africa, known by different names but built on the same idea: a dense, grainy cake drenched in sweet syrup. The batter is little more than semolina bound with yogurt, sugar, and melted butter, which bakes into a golden, tight-crumbed cake with a distinctive sandy, almost couscous-like bite from the coarse grain. Scored into diamonds before baking and studded with an almond in each piece, it's as much a fixture of holiday and celebration tables as of everyday tea time.
The defining step is the soak: a light lemon syrup, cooled while the cake bakes, is poured over the cake straight from the oven so it drinks it in and turns moist and sticky throughout. The temperature contrast matters — cool syrup onto hot cake lets it absorb evenly instead of pooling on top — so it's worth timing the two to line up. The lemon keeps the sweetness from turning cloying and the almonds add a soft crunch. Cut it once it has fully absorbed the syrup, and serve it at room temperature with coffee or strong tea.
Basbousa: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Basbousa?
A serving has about 311 calories — 4.9g protein, 48.4g carbs, 11.2g fat, 1.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Basbousa gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Semolina (rava). You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Basbousa dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Yogurt, Butter. Swapping those for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Basbousa take to make?
About 50 minutes start to finish, but only around 19 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Basbousa?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out almonds, lemon — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Basbousa make?
This recipe makes 10 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.