Sellou (Moroccan Toasted Flour, Almond and Sesame Sweet)
Local name: سلو
In short: Toasted flour, ground almonds and sesame bound with butter and honey into a crumbly, nutty sweet, spiced with cinnamon and anise. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Sellou is a dense, crumbly Moroccan sweet made for Ramadan, weddings and family gatherings. Flour is toasted slowly until it smells like biscuits, then mixed with ground almonds, toasted sesame, spices, honey and butter. The mixture is pressed into mounds and eaten by the spoonful with mint tea. It keeps well, and a little goes a long way.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Spread the flour on a large baking tray and toast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 8 minutes, until pale golden and smelling like biscuits. Cool, then sift out any lumps.
- Toast the almonds on a second tray for 10 minutes, until golden. Cool, then pulse in a food processor to a coarse powder, stopping before it turns to paste.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 3 minutes, until golden. Toast the aniseed for 1 minute, then grind it finely.
- Mix the cooled flour, almonds, sesame, aniseed, cinnamon, powdered sugar and salt in a large bowl.
- Stir in the melted butter and warm honey, then rub the mixture between your palms until it clumps when squeezed.
- Pack it into a bowl, or press it into mounds on a plate. Let it set for 1 hour before serving, then store it in an airtight container.
Tips
- Do not rush toasting the flour, since raw flour gives sellou a pasty taste. Stir often so it colors evenly.
- Sellou keeps for 3 to 4 weeks in a sealed tin. Grind the almonds finer for a smoother texture, or leave them coarse for more bite.
Questions and answers
Is it safe to eat toasted flour?
Raw flour can carry bacteria, so toasting it until it is dry and golden, as in this recipe, matters. Keep the oven at 160°C (325°F) and toast the flour thoroughly.
How do I serve sellou?
Pack it into small mounds, pressing a whole blanched almond on top if you like. Serve it with mint tea or coffee, and eat it by the spoonful, since it is rich.
Can I make sellou without butter?
Yes. Replace the butter with the same amount of warm neutral oil. The texture is a little less rich but still crumbly.
How long does it take to make Sellou (Moroccan Toasted Flour, Almond and Sesame Sweet)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 45 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sellou (Moroccan Toasted Flour, Almond and Sesame Sweet)?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 47 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 47 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 90 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
