We head to North Africa to try msemen, the puffed crepes

Msemen are Moroccan puffed crepes usually served with butter and honey but also excellent to prepare stuffed.

Traveling with recipes is really beautiful and today, thanks to the internet, this is really simple. In fact, there are many preparations that, although not belonging to our tradition, deserve to be tried and among these there are msemen. Also known as Moroccan puffed crepes , they are actually typical of several countries: Morocco yes, but also Tunisia and Algeria .

The dough is very simple and, although the final result resembles a crepes in all respects , in reality the preparation is very different. They are usually served for breakfast together with the inevitable mint tea, honey and smen , the typical fermented butter. Sometimes msemen are stuffed with sweet or savory fillings: this is possible thanks to the neutral flavor of the preparation. We really liked them very much so here’s what you need to make them with and without Thermomix.

How to make msemen with the original recipe

1. Combine the flour , salt and water in a bowl.
2. Start kneading first with a spoon then with your hands, transferring the dough to a lightly floured pastry board. Don’t worry if it looks sticky : working it will stop sticking.
3. Then form balls, oil them and let them rest under a clean cloth for 30 minutes.
4. At this point the most delicate phase of preparation begins. You have to spread these unusual crepes on a smooth and non-stick surface (marble is ideal, wood is not recommended), well oiled or greased. With wet hands, spread the dough a little at a time until it reaches a very thin, almost transparent thickness .
5. At this point, fold the two sides towards the center (as if it were a three-fold) then do the same with the upper and lower flaps. The result will be a kind of rectangle.
6. Let them rest for about 20 minutes.
7. Heat a non-stick pan and cook the crepes a couple of minutes on each side then serve.

How to prepare msemen with the Thermomix: the recipe

1. The part of preparing the msemen with the Thermomix concerns only the dough. Pour the water and salt into the jug and over the flour . Knead for 3 min. speed 4.
2. Then recover the dough and proceed as per recipe, forming balls , oil them and let them rest for half an hour under a clean cloth.
3. Roll them out one by one on a smooth, well-oiled surface until they are almost transparent.
4. Then fold them forming three folds first with the side flaps then with the upper and lower ones.
5. Let them rest for another 20 minutes.
6. At this point, cook the msemen in a non-stick pan for a couple of minutes on each side.

Be careful and don’t overdo it though: these crepes are very good but in msemen the calories are many, we are talking about about 400 kcal per piece !

Msemen: the recipe for fillings

As mentioned, the most popular way to consume msemen is with fermented butter and honey. However, there is no lack of stuffed versions. The most famous is obtained by cooking minced meat in a pan with chopped onion and spices (usually those typical of North Africa). Once ready and cooled, it should be placed in the center of the freshly spread raw crepes and then proceed to the folds. Cooking remains unchanged.

To make vegetarian msemen, on the other hand, you can cook vegetables as you like (we recommend peppers, onions, courgettes and aubergines) cut into julienne strips with oil and spices. Once tender and cold, season with salt and use everything as a filling. They are really good!

storage

The msemen can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days , well covered with film. We advise you to consume them after heating them in a pan or in the microwave for a few minutes.