How to prepare Bazin – A Libyan Dish
Bazin is a popular Libyan unleavened Bread made from boiling Barley Flour and Salt in water and beating it with a stick called Magraf until it develops into a Dough which is then baked or steamed.
The Bread is characterized by its hard texture, achieved by the usage of large amounts of Salt. It is traditionally shared and consumed using the right hand.
Ingredients:
- 2 chopped Onions
- 1 pound of Lamb shoulder chops or Beef Stew or Chicken
- Potatoes or Pumpkins cut up (figure on one medium Potato per serving)
- 4 Tablespoons of Tomato paste or 4 large Tomatoes
- Spices (1 Tablespoon of Paprika, one tablespoon of hot Paprika)
- ½ Tablespoon of Turmeric, Salt, Black pepper
- Olive Oil
- 2 cups of Barley Flour, preferably organic (250 g)
Directions:
- Make the Stew first: Heat the pot, add the Olive Oil and the Onions, and fry the Onions for a few minutes, add the Lamb chops or Stew Meat and brown for 15 minutes, flipping it every 5 minutes.
- Add the Paprika, both hot and mild, Turmeric, Salt, Black pepper, Tomato paste, and 3 cups of water.
- Close the lid and let the Stew simmer for 30 minutes or so, adding more water if necessary.
- Add the Potatoes or Pumpkin pieces to the Stew (or both) and cook 25 minutes longer, adding more water to the pot.
- Uncover the pot towards the end of cooking time to let the sauce thicken a bit and taste, adjusting seasoning.
Making the dumplings:
- Pour a quart of water into a pot; add 1/4 cup of oil and a teaspoon of Salt. Bring the water to a boil. Dump the Barley Flour on the simmering water and without touching it, let the mass of Flour float and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and transfer the mass of Dough into a bowl, reserving the cooking water nearby.
- Using a long stick or a long and thin rolling pin, start stirring the Dough, gradually adding more water, until the Dough becomes a compact and smooth form, just like Cookie Dough.
- Pinch off large pieces of Dough and form into a mound in the middle of the plate, using a large spoon to form a crater in the middle.
- Spoon the hot stew on the crater and all around the dumpling.
- Enjoy!!!