Lenten Almond Biscuits (Kwareżimal)
Vegan by default, this recipe has no eggs or dairy because of its association with Lent. (The name comes from ‘Quaresima’, the Italian word for Lent. In Maltese, Lent is called ‘Randan’, which interestingly stems from the Arabic/Muslim ‘Ramadan’.)
Some recipes include egg and even cocoa powder, but for authenticity and the practical reason that it’s great to have a treat for vegan friends or family, I make my biscuits the original way. Traditionally, the size of the biscuits is unusually large – perhaps they were intended to be nibbled at over the Lent period. I prefer to slice them smaller once they are out of the oven, to make them more sharing friendly.
Ingredients 9
200 g ground almonds
200 g plain flour (all-purpose flour)
200 g sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1⁄2 orange zest, zest, large, finely grated
125 ml water
2 tbsp honey
50 g almond, toasted, chopped
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Method 5
Combine the , , , , and in a food processor and process for 20 seconds. Gradually add the about a tablespoon at a time until the mixture darkens in colour and forms a dough that is slightly dry and crumbly (you may not need all the water).
Spill the contents onto a work surface and form into a ball. If you find it is too dry to come together, return it to the mixer and process with some more .
Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F) and line a baking tray with baking paper. Divide the dough into 4 balls. Flatten these into rectangular shapes and roll out to approximately 15 cm (6 in) long, 5 cm (2 in) wide and 2 cm (¾ in) thick.
Transfer to the tray and bake for 20–25 minutes. The edges should brown, and you should be able to lift up each with a spatula.
Working quickly while the biscuits are hot, brush them with the and sprinkle over the chopped , then cut each bar on a slight angle into 5–6 smaller pieces. Allow to cool.
Simon Bajada's tips
If orange zest isn’t your thing, lemon zest also works wonderfully.
These are more-ish, but should you have leftovers, they can be stored in a container for up to two weeks.
