Kaak el Abass is a cookie prepared during the Achoura holiday, a tribute to Hussein's half brothers. The third Shia Imam Abass was Hussein's brave devotee. He was martyred in 680 during the battle of Kerbala against the army of the Omayyad, led by the caliph Yazid the 1st. During Achoura, the faithful make a wish and share with others these cookies. It is prepared in all Shia communities.

Preparation time: 30 min
Cooking time: 15 min
Resting time: 2 h

For 10 cookies

275 g (10 oz) white flour
30 g (1 oz) powdered whole milk
100 g (3.3 oz) sugar
1/4 teaspoon fast-rising yeast (in winter put 1/2 teaspoon)
2 g (0.07 oz) cinnamon powder
1 g (0.03 oz) nutmeg powder
30 g (1 oz) walnut, crushed
1 g (0.03 oz) ginger powder
5 g (0.17 oz) aniseed powder
5 g (0.17) curcuma
3 cl (1 fl oz) vegetable oil
10 cl (3.3 fl oz) olive oil
5 cl (1.7 fl oz) of water

1. In a bowl, mix flour, powdered milk, sugar, yeast, cinnamon, nutmeg, walnut, ginger, aniseed, curcuma, vegetable oil and 10 cl (0.3 fl oz) of water.

2. Knead the dough until elastic.

3. Cover with a damp sheet and leave to rest for 3 hours.

4. Divide the dough into pieces of 20 g (0.7 oz) each.

5. Take a wooden mould about 10 cm in diameter. Moulds are sold in markets and Oriental grocery stores.

6. Pour olive oil into a small bowl.

7. Preheat the oven to 200’C / 400’F / Gas 6.

8. Coat the dough and its mould with olive oil. Remove the dough and place it over the baking sheet.

9. If you don't have a mould, design the cookie with the back of a knife.

10. Bake for about 15 minutes.

This cookie can be stored for one week in a container.

More in book: Rural Taste of Lebanon