Ramadan recipes: A pistachio mafroukeh recipe to satisfy your sweet cravings 

Aboujaber shared her recipe for delicious pistachio mafroukeh. (Supplied)
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Updated 20 April 2023
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Ramadan recipes: A pistachio mafroukeh recipe to satisfy your sweet cravings 

DUBAI: Jordanian TV chef Daad Aboujaber is known for her passionate cooking — here, she shares her recipe for delicious pistachio mafroukeh with Arab News so you can end Ramadan on a sweet note. 




Aboujaber previously hosted “Teslam El-Ayadi,” “Ahla Jamaa” and “Sweet Memories” on Fatafeat. (Supplied)

The chef was part of 18 regional chefs to take part in TV channel Fatafeat’s cooking show “Khaymat Ramadan.” 

She previously hosted “Teslam El-Ayadi,” “Ahla Jamaa” and “Sweet Memories” on Fatafeat. 

Ingredients: 

· 1 cup course semolina 

· 1/2 cup butter 

· 1 cup sugar 

· 2 1/3 cups milk 

· 3 cups ground pistachio 

· 2 tbsp orange blossom water 

Homemade Ashta: (could be replaced with fresh Ashta baladi) 

· 1 cup milk 

· 1cup whipping cream 

· 1 cup toast bread slices cut into pieces 

· 1 tbsp corn flour 

To serve: 

· Simple syrup 

To garnish: 

· Red lemon blossom 

Method: 

1. Melt butter, add semolina and toast on medium heat until light golden 

2. Add milk and sugar, stir until absorbed, take off the heat and add rose and orange blossom waters, stir well, cover and leave to cook then refrigerate 

3. To make the homemade ashta, mix corn starch with the milk then add remaining ingredients, cook on low heat until set, transfer to a plate, cover with plastic wrap, cook then refrigerate 

4. To assemble, spread the pistachio , spread the ashta, sprinkle with extra pistachio and garnish with the red lemon blossom, serve with sugar syrup 


Iraqi director nominated at Directors Guild of America Awards for ‘The President’s Cake’

Updated 10 January 2026
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Iraqi director nominated at Directors Guild of America Awards for ‘The President’s Cake’

DUBAI: Iraqi director Hasan Hadi this week received a Directors Guild of America Awards nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film for his debut, “The President’s Cake.”

Set in 1990s Iraq, the film follows Lamia, a young girl tasked with preparing a birthday cake for the country’s leader — a mandatory assignment that places her under intense pressure. As she races to gather the ingredients, the stakes grow higher, with the threat of serious consequences if she fails.

Hadi’s film is shortlisted in the category alongside Eva Victor for “Sorry, Baby,” Alex Russell for “Lurker,” Charlie Polinger for “The Plague,” and Harry Lighton for “Pillion.”

Also in the running for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Theatrical Feature Film are Guillermo del Toro for “Frankenstein,” Chloe Zhao for “Hamnet,” Ryan Coogler for “Sinners,”Josh Safdie for “Marty Supreme,” and Paul Thomas Anderson for “One Battle After Another.”

“The President’s Cake” has also been shortlisted for the Academy Award for International Feature Film.