Best Arabian Gulf Shortbread Cookies Ghiraybah Recipes

ARABIAN GULF SHORTBREAD COOKIES (GHIRAYBAH)

Steps:

• First of all, sifting is an important part which must not be left out or the cookies will not turn out the right texture so be sure you have a sieve.
• If need be, chill samneh or butter in refrigerator if too soft. (It should be somewhat soft just not very soft)
• Put samneh in mixing bowl and beat until light. Gradually add sifted icing sugar, beating until very creamy and light.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Sift flour and fold into butter mixture. Knead lightly until smooth. (Don't overdo it) If kitchen is hot, chill dough in refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
• Roll pieces of dough into balls the size of a walnut and place on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Flour hand lightly if necessary. Top half or all with a slivered almond. (I like to do half with the nuts and half with the dusting of icing sugar after cooled).
• Bake in the preheated moderately slow oven for 20-25 minutes until very lightly coloured. Cool on baking sheets. Dust the other half without the almond slivers with icing sugar. (Makes for a pretty presentation of the mixed biscuits on a platter) then remove. These are very delicate biscuits and must be handled carefully.
• Enjoy!

GHRAYBEH (MIDDLE EASTERN SHORTBREAD COOKIE)

Steps:

• First, mix the butter with the powdered sugar using a rubber spatula. You want to cream the both together until they are combined nicely.
• Then, add 1 cup of flour at a time. Use the same spatula to mix it all together. When folding in the second cup, mix with your hands in order to have everything well incorporated. It should resemble pie dough. You want to be able to shape a disk or ball out of the dough. Don't be discouraged if the dough appears crumbly; keep working with it until it all comes together because it will!
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour. This is imperative.
• Once you take out the dough, it should be hard to touch but it will be easier to mold once the heat of your hands come in contact.
• Grab 1 tbsp size piece of dough and shape like a small ball and slightly flatten the top. Make sure it is smooth. Add 1 piece of pistachio or almond on top by gently pressing it down half way. Place on a parchment lined baking tray.
• Keep repeating this step until there is no longer any dough. Make sure there is a few inches of space between the cookies.
• Bake in a 350 F oven for 15-20 minutes max. The bottom should be lightly browned. Bake at the middle rack all throughout or the bottom rack for 15 min then the top rack for 5 minutes.
• Allow the cookies to cool before touching or they can break. If they flatten a little bit, that is fine because it is a butter based cookie but in order to prevent flatenning; make sure the butter was room temp. to start with and the dough chilled properly.
• Sprinkle some powedered sugar on top if you would like and enjoy!

PERSIAN RICE COOKIES (NAAN BERENJI)

Steps:

• Mix together the canola oil and white sugar.
• Beat eggs and add along with the rose water to the sugar mixture.
• Add the white rice flour, baking powder and cardamom and blend into a thick dough.
• Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350F/180°C Line a cookie sheet with baking paper or oil lightly.
• Take a spoonful of dough the size of a walnut, roll into a ball between your palms, flatten slightly, and place on the cookie sheet. Repeat, leaving about an inch between cookies.
• Sprinkle the ground pistachios on top or poppy seeds if using.
• Place cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-22 minutes, or until firm and cracked on top. They should still be quite white but have a slight golden bottom.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the paper, and be careful these cookies crumble very easily.
• Store in an airtight container until serving.

GHORAYEBA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, stir together the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in flour and cardamom until well blended. Pinch off tablespoonfuls of dough, and roll into a thin rope. Join the ends together in a circle, and place on a greased cookie sheet. Place almond halves on the joints where the circles come together.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. The cookies should remain white, but may turn golden at the very edge.

DIABETIC SHORTBREAD WEDGES

Steps:

• Combine flour, Equal® for Recipes or Equal® Spoonful?
• ,cornstarch, and salt in medium bowl, cut in margarine with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Sprinkle vanilla and almond extracts over mixture and stir in; mix with hands briefly until dough begins to hold together.
• Pat dough evenly in bottom of greased 8-inch round cake pan.
• Lightly cut dough into 12 wedges with sharp knife, cutting about halfway through dough.
• Pierce each wedge 2 to 3 times with tines of fork; press almond into each wedge.
• Bake in preheated 325*F (160*C) oven until shortbread is lightly browned 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool on wire rack; cut into wedges while warm.