Kalburabasti is a cherished dessert from Ottoman cuisine that has become a significant part of Turkish culinary tradition. The name “Kalburabasti” is derived from the word “kalbur,” a traditional sieve used to shape the dough. This dessert was especially popular in the Ottoman palace kitchens and continues to hold a special place in modern Turkish celebrations, particularly during holidays and special occasions.
Kalburabasti is known for its unique texture and delightful flavor. The dessert features a crumbly dough filled with coarsely chopped walnuts, all soaked in a sweet syrup. This combination of ingredients creates a perfect harmony of flavors and textures that has been enjoyed for centuries. The process of making Kalburabasti involves shaping the dough with a grater or sieve, which gives it its distinctive appearance and name.
Historically, Kalburabasti was served at Ottoman feasts and banquets, symbolizing hospitality and the rich culinary heritage of the empire. Over time, it became a beloved treat across Anatolia, with each region adding its own variations and touches to the recipe. Today, Kalburabasti is not only a delicious dessert but also a nostalgic reminder of Turkey’s rich cultural and culinary past.
Enjoying Kalburabasti is like taking a bite out of history, savoring the same flavors that delighted sultans and their guests centuries ago. Its continued popularity in Turkish homes and pastry shops is a testament to its enduring appeal and the timeless love for traditional sweets. Whether served during festive occasions or as a delightful end to a family meal, Kalburabasti remains a beloved symbol of Turkish dessert culture.
Ingredients for Kalburabastı Dessert Recipe (Full Measure)
125 grams margarine or butter
1 tea glass of oil (125 ml)
1 tea glass of yoghurt
1 tea glass semolina
1 egg
Less than 1 teaspoon salt
Half a packet of baking powder
1 packet of vanilla
3,5 cups flour
For the filling:
1 cup walnut
For the syrup;
3 water glass granulated sugar
3 cups water (600 ml)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
How to Make Kalburabasti Recipe (Full Measure)?
- Firstly, let’s prepare the syrup of the Kalburabast. For this, take sugar and water into a suitable pot and mix them. Then let it boil by stirring occasionally.
- Let’s add lemon juice to the syrup that boils for about 15 minutes, boil for 5 more minutes and remove from the stove. Let it cool down.
- For the dough, put the butter, oil, yoghurt, yoghurt, egg, semolina, baking powder, vanilla and salt into the kneading bowl.
- Let’s start kneading our dough by adding flour slowly.
- Let’s pick pieces from our dough, which has a soft consistency that does not stick to our hands, and roll them in our hands.
- Let’s take one of the rolled dough. Put it on the griddle and open it by pressing it with our hands.
- Put the coarsely chopped walnuts in the middle of the dough and close the ends by joining them in the middle.
- Carefully remove the dough from the griddle without breaking the shape of the dough. Let’s prepare our desserts by applying the same process until all the dough is finished and place them intermittently on the baking tray where we spread baking paper. At this stage, if you do not have a griddle, you can do the same process using a silicone apparatus or a grater.
- Let’s bake our Kalburabasti desserts in a preheated 180 °C oven for 30 minutes on the bottom-up fanless setting.
- Transfer the hot desserts out of the oven into a baking tray. Pour the cooled syrup over the hot desserts.
Then let it rest for 2 hours to absorb the syrup. - At the end of the time, you can serve our kalburabasti desserts by decorating them as you wish. Bon Appetit!