Mamounia – Sweet Iraqi Semolina Porridge with homemade raw tahini

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Porridge

1. 1
   Bring the milk and sugar to a gentle boil in a saucepan.

   StoveSmall saucepan
2. 2
   Add the semolina in a thin stream, stirring constantly so no lumps form. Turn down to low and simmer, stirring 5–7 minutes, until the porridge thickens.

   Stove

   💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
3. 3
   Add the butter, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and stir.

   Stove
4. 4
   Grind the sesame seeds in a powerful blender about 3 minutes, until smooth paste forms.

   Blender

   💡At first the sesame looks like dry crumbs: keep grinding, scraping down the sides, and after a few minutes it releases its oil and turns liquid.

   💡In a food processor, grind in short pulses and check between pulses: it's easy to go from coarse to paste. (Sesame for tahini, on the other hand, is ground continuously.)
5. 5
   Taste and adjust the seasoning.
6. 6
   Pour into serving bowls, drizzle with the tahini and honey, sprinkle with the nuts and serve hot.

   Serving bowl