Klecha

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Klecha are Iraq's most beloved traditional cookies, baked in vast quantities for Eid, Nowruz, and every family celebration. The dough is made from flour, oil, and warm spiced liquid — either water or milk — and is formed around a filling of chopped dates or walnuts perfumed with cardamom and anise. The cookies are traditionally moulded into distinctive half-moon or round shapes and pressed with decorative patterns. Freshly baked, they have crispy, slightly crumbly edges giving way to a moist, fragrant filling. For Iraqis abroad, the smell of Klecha baking is the smell of home and celebration.

Ingredientes

Sirve 30

• 500 gplain flour
• 150 mlaceite vegetal
• 1/2 tspbaking powder
• 1/2 tspground anise
• 150 mlwarm water
• 1 tbspsugar
• 1/2 tspsalt
• 300 gMedjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped
• 100 gwalnut pieces, finely chopped
• 1.5 tspcardamomo molido
• 1 tspcanela molida
• 2 tbspbutter or ghee (for date filling)
• 1 largeegg, beaten (for egg wash)

Instrucciones

1. 1

   Make the dough

   Combine flour, baking powder, anise, sugar, and salt. Add oil and rub until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add warm water gradually and knead into a soft, non-sticky dough. Cover and rest 30 minutes.

2. 2

   Prepare date-walnut filling

   Warm ghee in a pan. Add dates and stir until they soften into a paste. Mix in cardamom, cinnamon, and chopped walnuts. Cool completely.

3. 3

   Shape the Klecha

   Take a piece of dough (golf ball size). Flatten into an oval. Place a teaspoon of filling in the centre. Fold dough over and press edges firmly to seal into a half-moon. Press a fork pattern along the edges.

4. 4

   Egg wash and bake

   Arrange on lined baking trays. Brush lightly with beaten egg. Bake at 180°C for 20–25 minutes until golden.

5. 5

   Cool and store

   Cool completely on a rack. They become crispier as they cool. Store in airtight tins.

Variaciones

• •

  Walnut only filling: skip dates and use toasted walnuts with sugar and cardamom.

• •

  Pistachio Klecha: use crushed pistachios with rosewater and sugar for a more luxurious version.

• •

  Vegetariano: cambia la proteína por champiñones ostra rey asados, tofu ahumado o garbanzos cocidos — ajusta el condimento ligeramente hacia arriba para compensar.

• •

  Más picante: agrega un chile fresco finamente picado o una cucharadita de pimienta Aleppo/Urfa molida a los aromáticos para un calor cálido y estratificado en lugar de un golpe único y agudo.

Almacenamiento

Store in airtight tins at room temperature for up to 3 weeks. They freeze beautifully for 3 months.

Preguntas frecuentes