Masoub (Yemeni Mashed Banana and Bread with Honey)
Local name: مسوب
In short: Torn flatbread mashed with ripe banana into a soft, sweet paste, finished with melted ghee, honey and black seeds. 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
- 480 kcal
Masoub is a Yemeni breakfast and Ramadan favorite that turns three humble things, flatbread, ripe bananas and honey, into something soft, sweet and filling. The bread is soaked in warm milk until tender, mashed together with the bananas and served in a mound, with melted ghee and honey pooled in the center. Black seeds on top add a slight peppery note. It is usually shared from one plate and eaten with a spoon or the fingers.
Instructions
- Put the torn bread in a large bowl and pour the warm milk over it. Leave for 5 minutes, until the bread is soft.
- Add the bananas and mash everything together with a fork or potato masher into a thick, soft paste. A few small lumps are fine.
- Spread the mixture on a wide serving plate and make a shallow well in the center.
- Pour the melted ghee and the honey into the well, and sprinkle the black seeds over the top.
- Serve right away, with spoons or torn bread for scooping, and hot tea on the side.
Tips
- Choose bananas with brown speckles. Underripe ones taste starchy and do not sweeten the mash properly.
- For a richer version, top the mound with a spoonful of thick cream (clotted cream or kaymak) and some chopped nuts.
Questions and answers
What bread works for masoub?
Soft flatbread such as lahuh, tannour bread or thin pita. Slightly stale bread is easiest to mash, while thick crusty loaves turn into hard lumps.
Can I make masoub ahead of time?
Make it just before serving. The bananas darken and the bread turns pasty if it sits for more than about 20 minutes.
Is masoub a breakfast or a dessert?
Both. Many families eat it for breakfast or at sunset in Ramadan, and it also works as a sweet, filling dessert after a light meal.
How long does it take to make Masoub (Yemeni Mashed Banana and Bread with Honey)?
About 20 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 5 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Masoub (Yemeni Mashed Banana and Bread with Honey)?
About 480 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 74 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 480 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 74 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 38 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
