North Africa · Dessert
Ghoriba (Crumbly Semolina-Almond Shortbread Scented with Cinnamon)
Sand-textured, melt-in-the-mouth semolina and almond cookies topped with fragrant cinnamon cracks.
The story
In the historic western city of Tlemcen, ghoriba holds pride of place on wedding sweet trays and during Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Bakers traditionally gauge the dough's hydration entirely by touch, rubbing the fat into the dry grains until a fistful holds together without sticking. The iconic fissures on top (bahla effect) occur only when top heat creates a rapid thermal shock before the bottom sets.
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