Ingredients
Syrup
- 6 tbspdate molasses
- 3 tbspgrape molasses
- 1 tbsprose water
- a drop of liquid smoke, optional
To assemble
- 600 mlcold water
- crushed ice
To top
- 3 tbsppine nuts
- 2 tbspgolden raisins
Directions
- Soak the pine nuts and raisins in cold water for 20 minutes so they swell and soften.
- Soaking them matters. Dry pine nuts sink and stay hard, while soaked ones float near the top where they are meant to be eaten from.
- Mix the date molasses, grape molasses and rose water together with a little of the water until smooth.
- Both molasses, not one. Date gives the depth and grape the sharper fruit note, and either alone tastes flat.
- Stir in the rest of the cold water and taste; it should be sweet but thin enough to drink easily.
- Traditional jallab carries a faint smokiness from being stored in vessels fumigated with Arabic gum incense, which is where the drop of liquid smoke stands in.
- Fill tall glasses right to the top with crushed ice.
- Pour the jallab over the ice slowly, so the layers stay dark at the bottom and paler at the top.
- Scatter the drained pine nuts and raisins over the surface.
- Serve immediately with a long spoon, because the nuts and raisins are eaten at the end.
- It is a Ramadan drink above all, poured at iftar across Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine.
Technique
- Bottled jallab concentrate is sold in Middle Eastern shops and is what most households use.
- Crushed ice rather than cubes; the drink is meant to be half slush.
- Some versions add a little sugar syrup, though the molasses is usually sweet enough.
Substitutions
- Pomegranate molasses for part of the grape molasses, which makes it sharper.
- Blanched almonds if pine nuts are too expensive.
Variations
- With a scoop of ice cream floated on top.
- Blended with the ice into a slush.
- Without rose water, for a plainer drink.
History
Date and grape molasses syrup with rose water, served over crushed ice with pine nuts and raisins.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jallab?
Jallab is a drink from Lebanon: date-grape molasses drink with rosewater, pine nuts and crushed ice. Date and grape molasses syrup with rose water, served over crushed ice with pine nuts and raisins.
How long does Jallab take to make?
Jallab takes 10 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 4 glasses. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Jallab?
Yes, within limits. Pomegranate molasses for part of the grape molasses, which makes it sharper. Blanched almonds if pine nuts are too expensive.
What is the most important thing to get right in Jallab?
Crushed ice rather than cubes; the drink is meant to be half slush.
