Ka'ak (Savory Ring-Shaped Biscuit)

What you’ll need

Tap an ingredient as you get it ready.

• ½ cup lukewarm water
• ½ cup vegetable oil (preferably canola oil)
• 100 g soft margarine or butter
• 3 cups wheat flour
• 1 tbsp baking powder or dried yeast
• 1 tsp light brown sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp black cumin (Nigella sativa) (optional)
• 10 g dried marjoram, za'atar or oregano (optional)
• ¾ tsp ground Mahaleb cherry (Prunus mahaleb) kernels (optional)
• 2 egg yolks (for basting), beaten

Let’s make it

1. Step 1

   Combine water, oil and soft margarine (or butter) in bowl.

2. Step 2

   Mix together flour, baking powder (or dried yeast), brown sugar, salt, and spices.

3. Step 3

   Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients (except egg yolks) until you get a dough.

4. Step 4

   Let dough mixture rest for 30 minutes until it reaches its proper consistency.

5. Step 5

   Cut dough into half. Roll each half into a coil with your hands. You should now have 2 pieces.

6. Step 6

   Cut each coil in half, and again roll out each coil into a smaller coil with one's hands. You should now have 4 pieces.

7. Step 7

   Cut each coil in half, and again roll out each coil into a smaller coil with one's hands. You should now have 8 pieces.

8. Step 8

   Cut each coil at angles into 4 equal pieces. You should now have 32 pieces

9. Step 9

   Pinch together the ends of each coil so that it forms a ring. Place on a baking sheet, and let sit until the dough rises.

10. Step 10

    Brush each dough ring with egg yolk.

11. Step 11

    Bake in a preheated oven at a low heat (212–338°F / 100–170°C) until they begin to emit vapors. Then, remove from the oven.

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