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Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
102 | Calories |
11g | Fat |
0g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 32 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 102 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 11g | 15% |
Saturated Fat 7g | 36% |
Cholesterol 30mg | 10% |
Sodium 220mg | 10% |
Total Carbohydrate 0g | 0% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 0% |
Protein 0g | |
Calcium 4mg | 0% |
*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. |
The Moroccan preserved butter is known as having more of a cheesy taste than a butter flavor. It is often added to tagine recipes as well as many other traditional Moroccan dishes but is also enjoyed simply spread on bread. A small amount of smen included in a dish will lend a distinct flavor that can't be replicated by a substitute ingredient.
Before proceeding with the recipe, make sure you have some cheesecloth and a clean glass or ceramic jar on hand for the smen. And don't plan to use it immediately—although very easy to make, the smen will need to sit a month or longer for the characteristic flavor to develop; the longer it sits, the stronger the flavor will be.
Smen can be made plain from salted clarified butter, as in this recipe, or flavored with herbs.
Ingredients
- 1 pound unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Melt the butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Increase the heat and bring the melted butter to a simmer. Simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the milk solids on the bottom of the pot have turned a light amber.
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Place a piece of cheesecloth over a bowl and carefully pour the clarified butter (not the solids) through a cheesecloth. Repeat this straining several times if necessary to remove all traces of milk solids. You want only perfectly clear clarified butter for smen.
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Stir the salt into the strained clarified butter, then pour it into a jar. Cover, and store in a cool, dark place (a cupboard is fine) for a month or longer.
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After opening, store the smen in the refrigerator.
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Enjoy!
Tip
The longer smen sits, the stronger the flavor will be.
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