Msemen Dough for Square-Shaped Moroccan Pancakes

Written by
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih is a freelance writer and cooking class instructor with a background in Moroccan cuisine.
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Christine Benlafquih
Updated 10/21/19
Msemen
Sam Bloomberg-Rissman / Getty Images
  • Total: 60 mins
  • Prep: 30 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: 20 msemen (4-inch square)
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
577 Calories
44g Fat
41g Carbs
6g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20 msemen (4-inch square)
Amount per serving
Calories 577
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 44g 56%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 1088mg 47%
Total Carbohydrate 41g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Protein 6g
Calcium 91mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Perhaps you are familiar with rghaif, the round Moroccan pancake. This recipe uses the same dough to make msemen, a flattened square-shaped version of rghaif. Instead of rolling up the dough and making flat circles, the dough is made into square shapes.

First, the dough is kneaded like bread dough until soft and smooth. Then portions of the dough are flattened and folded into squares. Frying the dough in a pan yields a layered pancake or flatbread that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

This recipe calls for a little semolina for texture and taste, but how much to use is a matter of personal preference. Substitute more semolina for some of the white flour if you like a coarser texture.

Ingredients

  • For Making the Dough:
  • 3 1/2 cups/440 g all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup/90 g fine semolina
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • For Folding and Cooking the Msemen:
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup fine semolina
  • 1/4 cup very soft unsalted butter

Steps to Make It

  1. Make the dough by mixing all of the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

  2. Add 1 1/2 cups of warm water and mix to form a dough. Add more water if necessary to make a dough that is soft and easy to knead, but not sticky. If the dough is too sticky to handle, add a little flour 1 tablespoon at a time.

  3. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead by hand for 10 minutes, (or knead the dough in a stand mixer with dough hook for 5 minutes), until the dough is very smooth and elastic.

  4. Proceed with folding and cooking the dough. 

Tips

  • Serve the msemen plain with butter and honey or jam.
  • To make a syrup from butter and honey, simply melt equal portions of butter and honey in a pan until hot and bubbly. Carefully and quickly dip the msemen in the syrup and place on a serving platter.