M'hanncha (The Snake) (Moroccan Almond Pastries)

Karen Haigh
8 pastries
Originally from: Traditional Moroccan Cooking by Madame Guinaudeau

2 cups almonds
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 teaspoon orange flower water (or more, to taste)
cinnamon
8 sheets filo pastry

Pound the almonds in a mortar with the sugar. Add the butter, flower water, and cinnamon. Pounding the almonds makes a smoother paste than simply grinding them.

Lay out a sheet of filo pastry. Using 1/4 cup of the almond paste, place about an inch thick sausage down the centre, roll the sheet around the stuffing and then then coil the sausage to form a snail's shell. Fry in butter until browned, then sprinkle with cinnamon and icing sugar before serving.

Variation: Use rose water instead of orange flower water.

From the Dinner Co-op