Written by Amina Siddiqui
Khaliat Nahl originates from Yemen but is popular in many other Middle Eastern countries such as Palestine. The name translates to a bee’s honeycomb, referencing to the honeycomb shape the bread has, hence the name honeycomb bread or Khaliat Nahl. This bread is the perfect combination of sweet and savory between the cheesy filling and sweet honey drizzle. This makes it a perfect bite to eat for breakfast, or even as a healthy dessert. Either way, honeycomb bread tends to be everyone’s favorite, making it perfect for any occasion. As I made this bread, I could not help but reflect upon the 1 million Palestinians in Gaza who will experience the highest level of starvation by middle of July.
Ingredients:
2 cups warm water
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
2 tbsp granulated sugar
5 cups all purpose flour
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup dry milk powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp white vingar
12 oz cream cheese
1 egg yolk
2 tbsp milk
¼ cup black sesame seeds
¼ cup honey
Method:
Using the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm water, yeast, sugar, and 2 cups of flour. Once everything is mixed really well, cover the bowl with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Once the 10 minutes are over, add olive oil, the remaining flour, milk powder, salt, and vinegar and stir everything together.
Once everything is mixed, use the hook attachment on the stand mixer and knead the dough for 6-8 minutes. The dough should be smooth and not sticky, if it is sticky, add about a tablespoon of flour at a time and knead again for 1-2 minutes until the right consistency is reached.
Shape the dough into a ball and place it back in the bowl, and coat it with olive oil. Cover the dough and let it rise for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the dough has risen, form golf size balls that are 35-40 grams.
After the balls are made, stuff them with the cream cheese and place them in a 12-inch cake pan with little space in between each ball.
Beat together the egg yolk and milk, then brush the mixture on top of the balls and sprinkle sesame seeds for garnish.
Bake for 25 minutes, until they are golden brown. Brush the honey on top as soon as the bread comes out of the oven so that it melts. Enjoy the bread warm or at room temperature.
