Dish

Jawhara

Jewel

Jawhara is a sweet and flaky pastry that is filled with almond paste and flavored with orange blossom water. The dough is made with flour, butter, and cold water, and is rolled out and filled with a mixture of ground almonds, sugar, and orange blossom water. The dough is then folded over and cut into diamond shapes before being baked until golden brown. The result is a sweet and nutty pastry that is perfect for serving with tea or coffee.

African cuisine› North African cuisine› Moroccan cuisine

Pastry› Sweet Pastry

Origins and history

Jawhara has been a popular pastry in Algeria for centuries, and is often served during Ramadan as a sweet treat to break the fast. The name Jawhara means "jewel" in Arabic, and refers to the pastry's diamond shape.

Dietary considerations

Jawhara contains nuts and gluten, and is not suitable for those with nut allergies or gluten intolerance.

Variations

There are many variations of Jawhara, including those that are filled with dates or figs instead of almonds. Some recipes also call for the addition of cinnamon or other spices to the filling.

Presentation and garnishing

To make Jawhara extra flaky, be sure to use cold butter and cold water when making the dough. Once baked, Jawhara is often garnished with powdered sugar or chopped nuts.