Qurabiya

Qurabiya(Arabic:غريبة) alsoghraybe,ghorayeba,ghoriba,ghribia,ghraïba,gurabija,ghriyyaba,,kurabiye, orkourabiedes(Greek:κουραμπιέδες) and numerous other spellings and pronunciations, is ashortbread-type biscuit, usually made with ground almonds. Versions are found in mostArab,BalkanandOttomancuisines, with various different forms and recipes.They are similar topolvoronesfromAndalusia.
In theMaghrebandEgypt, they are often served withLibyan tea,Arabic coffeeorMaghrebi mint tea.
A recipe for a shortbread cookie similar to ghorayebah but without almonds, called in Arabickhushkanānaj gharīb(exotic cookie), is given in the earliest known Arab cookbook, the 10th-centuryKitab al-Ṭabīḫ.Kurabiyeappears in theOttoman cuisinein the 15th century.
There is some debate about the origin of the words. Some give no other origin for the Turkish wordkurabiyethan Turkish, while others have given Arabic or Persian.Among others, linguistSevan Nişanyanhas given an Arabic origin, in his 2009 book of Turkish etymology, fromġurayborğarîb(exotic).However, as of 2019, Nişanyan's online dictionary now gives the earliest known recorded use in Turkish as the late 17th century, with an origin from thePersiangulābiya, a cookie made withrose water, fromgulāb, related to flowers. He notes that the Syrian Arabic wordsġurābiye/ġuraybiyelikely derive from the Turkish.
Crimean Tatars (indigenous people of Crimea) call cookies "khurabie" (qurabiye, qurabye, къурабье, къурабие).
The Crimean Tatar "kurabye" has many forms, but basically it looks like a rhombus, or a combination of two or three rhombuses to form a flower, or it is cut in the shape of a crescent.
Crimean Tatars prepare kurabye as follows: powdered sugar is mixed with ghee, and then flour is added.
The finished "khurabye" is completely sprinkled with powdered sugar on all sides.
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Gurabija
Ghribia(Algerian Arabic:غريبية)
Khourabia(Armenian:Ղուրաբիա) is the Armenian version sometimes referred to in English as Armenian butter cookie or Armenian shortbread cookie.Khourabiawas traditionally made with three ingredients: butter, sugar, and flour and usually shaped like bread, wheat ear, or horse shoe signifying health, wealth, and prosperity. It was mostly eaten during theEaster, Christmas and new year celebrations. Later, more ingredients were added, like eggs, cinnamon, and walnuts.
Kurabii, name of theBulgariancuisine and the many varieties of cookie, a popular sweet variety. Especially during the holiday season, and a variety of jams produced via the new year with powdered sugar cookies decorated with cute shapes are called "maslenki".
The Greek version, called "kourabiedes"or "kourabiethes"(Greek:κουραμπιέδες; plural ofkourabiesκουραμπιές), resembles a lightshortbread, typically made with almonds.Kourabiedesare sometimes made withbrandy, usuallyMetaxa, for flavouring, thoughvanilla,mastikaorrose waterare also popular.In some regions of Greece,Christmaskourabiedesare adorned with a single whole spicecloveembedded in each biscuit.Kourabiedesare shaped either into crescents or balls, then baked till slightly golden. They are usually rolled in icing sugar while still hot, forming a rich butter-sugar coating.Kourabiedesare popular for special occasions, such as Christmas orbaptisms.
The Greek word "kourabiedes" comes from the Turkish wordkurabiye,which is related to qurabiya, a family of Middle Eastern cookies.
In Cyprus, they are often given as gifts to wedding attendees after the ceremony.
InTabriz, Qurabiyas are made ofalmond flour, sugar,egg white,vanilla,margarineand a topping of coarsely crushedpistachioand almond. It is served by itself or with tea, customarily placed on top of the teacup to make it soft before eating.
Variants including:
GhraïbaLibyan Arabictranslation : | غريبة
Ghoriba (Moroccan Arabic:غْرِيبَة) in Morocco and other parts of theMaghreb, the popular cookies often usesemolinainstead of white flour, giving a distinctive crunch.
the original Ghriba is made from flour and flavored with lemon or orange zest and cinnamon, this sweet is usually served at parties, accompanied by mint tea or coffee.
Ghurēba / Ghrēba (Arabic:غريبة), variants include:
The wordkurabiyeis used to refer to a variety ofbiscuitsin Turkey, not necessarily local ones, although various types of localkurabiyeare made; includingacıbadem kurabiyesiandun kurabiyesi.
Ghraïba (Tunisian Arabic:غريبة)