Algerian Kaak or Hniwnat

What is Kaak,

Kaak is a round crown like a sweet bread or brioche. Eaten in North Africa and Middle Eastern regions. They are flavored with orange zest, lemon zest, fennel seeds, or anise seeds, sometimes filled with dates. Recipes change and vary from family to family.

Today, I present to you the recipe that my grandmother used to prepare for us. Nowadays, with orange zest. In winter, oranges are abundant.

Returning from school, I could smell the scent of oranges and brioche. The alley was filled with fragrance. We savored these little crowns with a good bowl of café au lait.

They are also called Hniwnat in the region of Médéa (located 60 km south of Algiers, my roots).

Hniwnat means Sweetness (Algerian Arabic language)

Ingredients:

-500g or500g of all purpose flour (depend of the quality and brand of your flour)

-20g of fresh yeast

-100ml of warm milk

-100g of melted butter (for a soft texture)

-Salt

-140g of caster sugar

-3 large eggs

-Zest of 2 oranges

Method:

Prepare Mixing Bowl:

-Combine flour and orange zest in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer.

-Crumble fresh yeast into the center of the bowl.

-Place salt on the opposite side of the bowl from the fresh yeast.

Initial Mixing:

-Begin mixing all the ingredients with the stand mixer’s hook attachment on low speed.

Prepare Eggs:

-In a small bowl, whisk 3 eggs.

Add Eggs to Dough:

– Add the whisked eggs to the mixing bowl while continuing to mix at medium speed.

Add Milk and Butter:

-Pour in the milk and mix

-Finally, add the melted butter and continue mixing on high speed until the dough detaches from the bowl.

Resting and Deflating the Dough

-Cover and let it rest for a good hour, or even more.

-After one hour, deflate the dough, (the dough should be soft).

Shaping the Buns

-Shape the dough into 100g balls by rolling each portion on a floured surface.

Creating a Hole:

-Make a large hole in the middle of each rolled ball.

Cutting Edges:

-Carefully cut the edges of each crown-shaped bun with a knife or scissors.

-Be cautious not to cut through the crown completely.

-Place the kaak on a baking tray (let space between them).

Egg Yolk and Sesame Seeds:

-In a separate bowl, beat 1 egg yolk.

-Brush the top of each shaped bun (kaak) with the beaten egg yolk.

Sesame Seed Garnish:

-Sprinkle a few sesame seeds over the brushed egg yolk on top of each bun.

Baking Time:

-Bake at 180C degrees for about 30 minutes or when the top is golden brown.

Remove from the oven and let the Kaak cool for a bit. They are light and incredibly soft. The addition of orange zest gives them a very aromatic flavor.

PS: The brioche dough should be soft. The result will depend on the quality of your butter and your flour as well.