Coconut Cake ( Bibikkan)

Bibikkan is  a delicious, dark moist cake made of shredded coconut, jaggery,dry fruits and semolina. It has got a very distinct taste and savoured by most foodies  in my country.This wonderful sweet treat was apparently introduced to Sri Lanka during the Dutch/Portuguese  rule.It is very  popular during the festive season.Recently I took an effort to make  this delicious delight from scratch.Due to Diabetes  my husband and I need  to  keep our sugar levels  under control, hence it was   essential to make a few changes in the recipe.Therefore I  omitted the jaggery and used treacle and date paste and also left out the   sugary  ginger preserves winter melons and the candied peel, which the original recipe called  for and substituted with unsweetened  dry fruits and the zest of citrus to cater to our taste.Regardless it turned out fabulous.

 Ingredients

40 ml  bottle of treacle

2 cups shredded coconut

50 g semolina  slightly roasted 

50 gram whole wheat flour

1 cup dates  chopped  

½ teaspoon fennel  crushed

2-3  cardamom crushed

50 g cashew nuts

1  cup  dry friuts/prunes,raisins( (chopped)

2 eggs

1 tablespoon mixed lemon/orange zest

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Extra cashew nuts for decoration (optional)

Method

Mix the coconut with the treacle ( I also used  1/2 cup of date paste). Stir in the semolina, dates, fennel, cardamom, the dry fruits,lemon/orange zest, cashew nuts, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.

Separate the egg white and york. Beat it separately and fold into the mixture.Now pour the contents into  a greased baking tray(9 inch*12 inch).Decorate with cahew nuts (optional).Bake in a moderate oven (160°C ) for 2 hours.Cool completely and cut.

*If you are using jaggery ,melt the jaggery in 375 ml water in a pan, add the coconut and  set aside to cool and then mix in the rest of the ingredients.

This can be wrapped individually and  stored in an airtight container in the freezer for later use.

Please note-This particular coconut cake (Bibikkan) was prepared to suit a diabetic's palate,using,treacle,date paste and whole wheat flour.There is an original recipe for this specialty cake using a varied of ingredients.

Serving Arabic Coffee

Arabs love their coffee slightly spiced and unfiltered. Cardamoms and saffron is added to give flavor and a golden sheen. These spices add a strong flavour and enhance the taste. Coffee is brewed in a pot commonly known as  a 'Dallah' and poured into tiny cups called 'Fenjen'. There are some strict etquettes that needs to be followed  when serving coffee to guests. The host/hostess has to personally hand over each tiny cup to their guests. Holding the coffee pot with the left hand, the host/hostess then pours the coffee and serve it with their right hand. And when the guests want a refill, he/she will have to move or rock the cup slowly in a jiggling motion.

To make Arabic coffee  you will need:
3 cups water
2 tbsp ground decaffeinated coffee
3 tbsp cardamom (coarsely ground)
1/4 tsp saffron

Method
Add the coffee to hot  water and bring to a boil over low heat thus allowing the coffee grounds to settle. Add cardamoms and saffron and boil again just before serving. This type of coffee is taken strong without any additives like sugar, milk or cream. However accompaniments like dates and sweets are served alongside the coffee.

Breaking Fast During Ramadan

It’s Ramadan once again and Muslims across the globe observe fast from dawn and until sunset. During a specific time when the sunset prayer is called in the mosques, Muslims break their fast with dates and thereafter eat other types of food. Friends and relatives are invited to partake of their food. Delicious Samosas, pastries, fruits and fruit juices and an assortment of savories are spread across the dining tables.
During Ramadan back at home in my native country, a delicious conjee is cooked with a lot of aromatic herbs and flavor. This is a porridge prepared with rice, chicken or lamb and a heavy dose of coconut milk. The cooling effect of garlic, ginger and fenugreek which is added during the process of cooking the porridge, makes it more irresistible. Children who fast are treated with their favourite food and drink.

Conjee-rice porridge


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