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harcha recipe

Homemade Harcha

Author: Larry White
Buttermilk, semolina, and cornmeal come together in a soft dough that is cooked in a skillet, then finished in the oven until the outside is lightly crisp and the center stays tender. Harcha can be served plain, stuffed with cheese or meat, or eaten warm with butter and honey.
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Servings: 2 People
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Moroccan

Ingredients 

  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon double acting baking powder
  • 1/2 cup fine cornmeal
  • 1 1/3 cups semolina flour, plus extra for cooking and handeling
  • 1 cup clarified butter
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; if making sweet dish

Optional Fillings

  • 1/2 cup cooked ground meat (venison, lamb or beef)
  • 1/2 cup shredded or crumbles cheese (goats cheese is great)

Instructions

  • Pre-heat your oven to 350 degree F.
  • In a small bowl mix the fine sea salt, sugar and (cinnamon if using).
  • In a large bowl, mix the corn meal and semolina together thoroughly. Add in the softened butter and mix with your hands until the texture is like wet sand.
  • Add the salt, sugar and baking powder to the large bowl mixture and fold in with your hands until fully incorporated.
  • Using about a 1/4 cup at a time, add in the milk, mixing thoroughly in between each pour. This dough will be very wet. (If you're wanting to fold in your cheese or meat in place of stuffing, do so now).
  • Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.
  • On a food safe working surface, spread out a thin layer of semolina to about a 12 inch by 12 inch size. Scoop out the dough from the bowl, sprinkle a little semolina on top of the dough and flatten the dough to a uniform 1 inch thick piece (as you would for making biscuits).
  • Using about a 2" biscuit cutter, cut each harcha out and and carefully set to the side using a thin spatula. Ensure that each harcha is resting on a little semolina to prevent sticking.
  • If stuffing, place a heaping teaspoon of the filling of your choice in the center of half of the harcha. One at a time gently lay the remaining un-topped harcha on top of the ones with the filling. Seal off the edges using your fingers (they don't have to be pretty).
  • Heat a large non-stick or cast iron pan over low heat. Dust the surface of the pan with semolina. Without over crowding, gently place a few harcha into the pan. Cook for about 6-8 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown. Turn them over and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the bottom is set. Transfer them to a baking sheet. Repeat the above steps for the remaining harcha, wiping out the pan and dusting with fresh semolina.
  • Place the baking pan in the oven and cook for 6 minutes. Serve warm.

NOTES

  • The dough is supposed to be very wet. If you want an easier version, fold cooked meat or cheese directly into the dough instead of stuffing it. That changes the texture a little, but it is simpler to handle.
  • Let the dough rest before shaping. Give it 10 minutes after mixing so the semolina can hydrate, and the dough is easier to flatten and cut.
  • Use semolina on the work surface. Flatten the dough to about 1 inch thick on a semolina-dusted surface and keep a little semolina under each piece so they do not stick.
  • Handle stuffed pieces gently. Add only a small spoonful of filling and seal the edges with your fingers. The dough is delicate, so do not expect it to look perfect.
  • Start them in a pan. Cook them in a nonstick or cast-iron pan over low heat until the first side is golden brown, then flip and cook just until the second side sets.
  • Finish them in the oven. After the pan step, bake them at 350 F for about 6 minutes so the center cooks through without darkening the outside too much.
  • Serve them warm. They are best hot from the pan and oven, especially if you are stuffing them.

Nutrition

Calories: 1857kcal | Carbohydrates: 168g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 117g | Saturated Fat: 68g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 35g | Cholesterol: 307mg | Sodium: 2139mg | Potassium: 647mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 387IU | Calcium: 664mg | Iron: 8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation. Nutrition is per serving.

Keywords: Bread, Comfort food, Easy
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