How to Cook With Rosewater
Julius Cesar was probably imbibing rosewater, bathing in it and eating it in his porridge. Romans were the first to use this byproduct of rose oil. Use of rosewater today means that this fragrant food flavoring is probably from Damask roses. It is a Mediterranean favorite and heavily used in Middle Eastern recipes. Infuse meat with rosewater, bake sweets, braise with it. Soak in it or make a rosewater glycerin hand cream. Rosewater has several applications (see resources -- 59 Recipes). In this project we will make a standard sweet recipe. It is easy and flavorful. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rosewater -- commercial brand Recipe for almond and date cakes • 2 cups of self-rising flour • ½ cup of butter • ½ cup of sugar • 2 tablespoons of rosewater • ½ cup of chopped almonds • ½ cup of chopped Medjool dates • 1 teaspoons of nutmeg Sifter Bread board Biscuit cutter Baking tray Heavy Cream Frosting • 1 pint heavy cream • ½ cup of powdered sugar • 1 tablespoon of Rosewater
Instructions
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Cream the sugar and butter together until thoroughly blended. Beat in rosewater until it is smooth.
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2
Sift 2 cups of flour and add nutmeg, almonds and dates. Mix thoroughly and add to butter mixture. Mix thoroughly. Dough will be soft.
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3
Turn out the mix onto a board that has been dusted with flour. Knead until it is the consistency of medium cookie dough. Add flour if too light; add more rosewater, drop by drop, if it is too heavy. Roll out to ½ inch thickness and cut with a circular biscuit cutter. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes until done, and barely browned. Cool before dipping in cream frosting.
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Beat heavy cream with powdered sugar and rosewater flavoring until it forms firm peaks. Dip cakes into the frosting and enjoy the distinct flavoring of rosewater.
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Tips & Warnings
Rosewater is a flavoring that can be used in the cooking water with starches like rice and noodles, or as a direct infusion in meat and especially in sweet recipes. You can also use it along with Orangewater. The flavors work well together and impart a floral and citrus blend that is distinctive.
Pluck your own roses and make a fragrant infusion according to advice from tipnut.com in the resources. Keep it refrigerated because it collects bacteria quickly. Even though it is fun to make, don't use it in recipes you will eat.
