Burmese Semolina Cake with Rum Raisins (Shwe Gye)

One of my favorite things growing up was a Burmese semolina cake. It is known by a few names: san win ma kin or shwe gye may be the most familiar ones. I didn't have a major sweet tooth growing up, but this dessert was something I couldn't resist. When I was a kid, my mother would make me stir the mixture for an hour (it kept me out of trouble and from making a mess running around the house).

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 580 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup raisins
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup corn oil
• 3 cups water
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 cups semolina flour
• 1 cup rum
• 2 ½ cups unsweetened coconut cream
• 2 tablespoons honey, or to taste (Optional)
• 2 tablespoons white poppy seeds (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch baking dish.

Step 2

Combine rum, raisins, and brown sugar in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until raisins absorb rum, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Toast semolina in a dry saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add water, coconut cream, sugar, oil, eggs, and salt; cook and stir until mixture thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat and stir in raisin mixture. Cook and stir until mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan, 5 minutes to 1 hour.

Step 4

Scrape semolina mixture into the prepared baking dish; smooth the top.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, about 1 hour. Garnish with a drizzle of honey and poppy seeds.