Masoub (Banana and Bread Pudding with Honey and Ghee)
Local name: مصوب
In short: Ripe bananas mashed with torn warm bread, hot milk and cardamom into a thick pudding, topped with ghee, honey, cream and nuts. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 5 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 560 kcal
Masoub is a banana and bread pudding eaten for breakfast and during Ramadan in western and southern Saudi Arabia. Torn flatbread is softened in hot milk, mashed with very ripe bananas and finished with ghee, honey and thick cream. It is spooned from a shared dish, usually topped with nuts. There is no baking, which makes it a quick and comforting dish, best made with the ripest bananas you have.
Instructions
- Put the torn bread in a large bowl and pour over the hot milk. Leave for 3 minutes until soft, then mash with a fork into a thick porridge.
- In another bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth.
- Fold the bananas into the bread mixture with 2 tablespoons of the ghee, the honey and the cardamom. Warm over low heat for 3 minutes, stirring, until hot and thick.
- Spoon the mixture into a shallow serving dish and make a well in the middle.
- Pour the remaining ghee into the well, top with the cream and drizzle with honey. Scatter with the nuts and serve warm.
Tips
- Use bananas with plenty of brown spots. Underripe ones are starchy and need more honey to taste sweet.
- Some cooks add a spoon of date syrup or sprinkle toasted nigella seeds on top. Day-old bread works as well as fresh and needs a little more milk.
Questions and answers
Is masoub a breakfast or a dessert?
Both. In Saudi Arabia and Yemen it is eaten for breakfast, as a Ramadan dish and as a dessert.
Can I make masoub ahead?
It is best fresh because the bananas darken. If you must, keep the mashed mixture covered for a few hours and add the toppings just before serving.
Can I use another bread?
Yes. Any soft flatbread or even toast works, though thin flatbreads give the best texture.
How long does it take to make Masoub (Banana and Bread Pudding with Honey and Ghee)?
About 20 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Masoub (Banana and Bread Pudding with Honey and Ghee)?
About 560 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 72 g of carbohydrates and 28 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 560 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 72 g |
| Fat | 28 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 40 g |
| Sodium | 280 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
