Moroccan Inspired Muffins For Maryam
Thanks to Jennifer I recently discovered My Marrakesh and came to know Maryam. We exchanged a few emails, mostly about food. When Maryam said she couldn't buy blueberries in Marrakesh I decided to create a muffin she could make with local ingredients. When I think of Morocco I think of tangines with dried fruits, couscous, preserved lemons, pine nuts and mint tea. These are my blueberry muffins gone Moroccan.
MOROCCAN MUFFINS
1 3/4 cups plain flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup natural yogurt
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped dates
Topping
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
(I meant to include a few slivers of preserved lemon in the topping but forgot. I think it would work quite well)
Preheat oven to 200C
Sift together flour, salt and baking powder together.
Add apricots and dates and mix in.
Blend butter, sugar, yogurt, eggs.
Add to dry ingredients.
Spoon into muffin pans lined with paper cases.
Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over muffins
Bake at 200C for 20 minutes or until cooked.
Serve warm with butter.
Those look original, yum!
Posted by: Kelly Mahoney | August 20, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Followed your link to Maryam's, and now I too am hooked on her beautiful blog. Next, I will try these muffins, and complete the circle....
Posted by: Lydia | August 20, 2007 at 07:55 PM
This sounds absolutely delicious. I can't wait to try it. I am so very flattered you thought of me.
Posted by: Maryam in Marrakesh | August 20, 2007 at 10:30 PM
These look terrific, Barbara - I'm tagging the recipe right now!
Posted by: Patricia Scarpin | August 21, 2007 at 01:05 AM
wonderful recipe! i love how you took flavor inspirations of a place and boiled it down into wonderful little muffins.
Posted by: connie | August 21, 2007 at 03:06 AM
I love Maryam's blag too, and this was incredibly kind of you, Barbara! So thoughtful, and they look delicious.
Posted by: Figs Olives Wine | August 21, 2007 at 03:09 AM
Isn't the internet wonderful? That Al Gore is one smart cookie.
These muffins look AMAZING. You are so creative, Barbara. Color me impressed.
Posted by: Jennifer Jeffrey | August 21, 2007 at 06:38 AM
These sound like a fabulous flavour combination. I just opened a jar of preserved lemons and am on the hunt for things to do with them. These will be perfect.
Posted by: Morven | August 21, 2007 at 06:52 AM
These look like wonderful cozy muffins to make in the winter when the local fruit has disappeared from the shelves. I can picture us now, under the blankets, watching a movie, eating a dozen muffins!! Thanks for the recipe Barbara!
Posted by: Kristina | August 21, 2007 at 09:52 PM
They seem so miam miam !!!
I'm going to make it too.
Thanks for this recipe of the muffins of Maryam
Mélanie
Posted by: Mélanie | August 21, 2007 at 11:06 PM
Barbara,I have been out for a few days and looking at your blog meet with superb recipes, I loved muffins, very good idea to make them thinking of local products.
Posted by: Sylvia | August 22, 2007 at 12:06 AM
You are so full of good ideas. They look really delicious and another recipe for me to try- thank you :)
Posted by: chrisb | August 22, 2007 at 07:17 AM
Brilliant Barbara! :)
Posted by: Kat | August 22, 2007 at 09:59 PM
Thanks everyone. My husband says they are the best muffins he has ever eaten...and he doesn't like dates.
Posted by: barbara | August 23, 2007 at 05:53 AM
I was just the other day wishing for a good date bread recipe--looks like I now have one!
Posted by: Rosemary in Utah | August 23, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Maryam's blog is such a delight! I discovered it earlier this year when my friends and I were planning a trip to Morocco (which fell through btw) and while doing some research on that online. I love the sound and look of these muffins! :)
Posted by: Christine | August 23, 2007 at 05:56 PM
Rosemary - you could bake this in a loaf tin.
Christine. - what a pity you didn't get to Morocco.
Posted by: barbara | August 23, 2007 at 06:18 PM
I just tagged you, do it if you feel like it!
Posted by: ilva | August 23, 2007 at 07:27 PM
Apricots, dates, and pinenuts all in the same muffin? Oh, my those sound fragrant and delicious. Though muffins and I aren't the best of friends, this recipe is worth me giving muffin-making one more try. Thanks, Barbara!
Posted by: Susan from Food Blogga | August 24, 2007 at 05:21 AM
Susan - I think people think muffins have to be heavy and healthy but if I'm going to eat muffins I want them to be tasty.
Posted by: barbara | August 25, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Dates and apricots...then pine nuts? What could be better! Sounds/looks wonderful.
Posted by: Chris | August 26, 2007 at 04:19 AM
I just wanted to thank you for the recipe! I, too, live in Morocco and sometimes it's hard to find the right ingredients because we don't get many foreign stuff here. it took me about a year to find a place where I sometimes can get peanut butter....
Mayogi @ Home, living in Morocco
Posted by: Mayogi | August 27, 2007 at 10:09 AM
Baked a batch last night, square pan, worked well! The batter *just* sweet enough. Thank you, Barbara.
Posted by: Rosemary in Utah | August 28, 2007 at 12:13 AM
Mayogi - you're welcome
Rosemary - you could probably add more sugar but I like them as is.
Posted by: barbara | August 28, 2007 at 05:47 AM
I made a batch for this morning and used preserved lemon on the topping as you suggested. The girls at work say thank you for the recipe! YUM
Posted by: Morven | August 29, 2007 at 09:15 AM
Hi! I am organising this months' muffin monday and came accross your beautiful moroccan muffins. Maybe you could do another batch of exotic muffins before october 15th? Would love to get some participations from this side of the world. All details here: http://7lieues.canalblog.com/archives/2007/08/26/5993792.html
Greetings!
Posted by: Pernille | September 10, 2007 at 01:46 PM