What Is Durum semolina flour and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about durum semolina flour and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 67 recipes to cook tonight.

What is durum semolina flour?

Semolina  is the coarse, purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used in making pasta, and also used for breakfast cereals and puddings.

Semolina made from durum wheat is yellow in color. It is usually the basis for dried products such as couscous, which is made by mixing roughly 2 parts semolina with 1 part durum flour.

When flour comes from softer types of wheats it is white in color. In this case the correct name is flour, not semolina which comes only from durum wheat.

When boiled, it turns into a soft, mushy porridge. This flour is popular in northwestern Europe and North America as a dessert, boiled with milk and sweetened, called semolina pudding. It is often flavored with vanilla and served with jam.

In Sweden, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia, it is eaten as breakfast porridge, sometimes mixed with raisins and served with milk. In Swedish it is known as mannagrynsgröt, or boiled together with bilberries, as blåbärsgröt. In the Middle East, it is used to make desserts called Harisa or so called Basbosa or Nammora.

Nutrition

Where found

Durum semolina flour is usually found in the baking supplies section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Durum semolina flour is a member of the Cereal Grains and Pasta US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does durum semolina flour weigh?

Related

Cereal Grains and Pasta

Recipes using durum semolina flour

There are 67 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Stuffed Rava/Sooji idli

Here's a delicious, quite filling idli recipe that can be enjoyed as a snack or the main dish. Learn how to make stuffed idli. So here's a colourful idli recipe that's packed with the goodness of vegetables.

Capsicum Toast

This open faced toasted capsicum sandwich is delicious as a quick snack or midnight feast. Also good as a healthy lunch for the kids. The secret ingredient is semolina!

Papadi

Little crisp round shaped spiced Indian crackers made from wheat flour are baked in the oven to add to the extra nutrition. The little crispies are use in chaats like Bhel Puri, Papdi chaat, and many more. You sure can innovate you your topping, may be like a chilli-cheese, or chilli corn and cheese, etc.

Provolone Oregano Focaccia

Provolone oregano focaccia is a hearty Italian flatbread with whole wheat and semolina flour, garlic-infused olive oil pooled in the dimples, and provolone cubes baked into the dough. Bread-machine-free.

Plain sooji idli/rava idli/semolina idli

Sooji idli, a quick and simple tea-time snack that is low in fat, this is a perfect option for health conscious people. I’ve used low-fat curds to impart a nice taste and to make the idlis soft. For a wholesome evening snack of just 150 calories, serve three idlis with green chutney, page. . . . Make sure that you make the idlis as soon as you have added the fruit salt to the batter to ensure a fluffy product.

Basic Egg Pasta (Italian)

Learn to make fresh Italian egg pasta from scratch with just flour, semolina, eggs and salt. Hand-kneaded or food processor, this classic homemade pasta dough cooks in minutes.

Homemade Fried Semolina Bread

Homemade fried semolina bread rolls a stiff semolina dough paper-thin, then fries it into crisp, golden discs. A crunchy, savory Sri Lankan fried bread to serve hot with vegetable curry.

Whole Wheat Flatbread (Chapati)

Soft, puffed Indian chapati made with just semolina flour, water, oil, and salt. No yeast, no oven. Cooked on a hot griddle in about a minute per side. Vegan friendly.

Fresh Pasta Dough

Eggless fresh pasta dough with just semolina, water, and olive oil. Makes silky homemade noodles that cook in 2 minutes by hand, stand mixer, or food processor.

Upma (North Indian Style)

Yummy rawa upma is a delectable upma recipe with rawa or semolina as ingredient. The rawa or sooji are roasted and cooked with onion,tomatoes, mustard seeds, curry leaves, lime juice,curd,peanuts and chopped coriander leaves. An excellent breakfast item, yummy rawa upma upma is easy and delicious.

Authentic Naan Khatai

Sometimes you are at a loss. No ideas whatsoever, you have favorites at Tastespotting, you have archives, you have notes on what recipes to try and you have people feedback but nothing seems to fit. I cannot write a post to 'fill in' space. I have to absolutely love that recipe and it should look and taste amazing not to mention that it should be photographed decently. This weeks' post is one of a kind of traditional Indian biscuits called Naan Khatai.This is a very old hands down recipe.It consists of only three main ingredients - Ghee, flour and sugar. It is flavored with freshly grounded cardamom. The cookies are sprinkled with pistachios or Almond. The typical texture of these cookies should be powder like on the cracked tops. You can find them in almost all bakeries and they are true all time favorites. Nan khatai is an egg-less light and crispy biscuit that’s perfect to serve with tea or coffee.

Bread Machine Semolina Bread

I used durum wheat flour instead of semolina. Barney unplugged my machine, so I had to finish the second rise, and bake it in the real oven. It turned out great. This bread is not sweet, it has almost a "sour" taste. Holds up nice for sandwiches. I'll make it again.

Bread Machine Semolina Bread

I used durum wheat flour instead of semolina. Barney unplugged my machine, so I had to finish the second rise, and bake it in the real oven. It turned out great. This bread is not sweet, it has almost a "sour" taste. Holds up nice for sandwiches. I'll make it again.

Durum-Wheat Pasta for Pasta Machine

Two-ingredient durum semolina pasta made with a home pasta machine. Just flour and water, extruded into any shape you like. The real deal, Italian nonna style.

Mexican Herb Pasta

Homemade Mexican herb pasta made with durum semolina flour and dried cilantro using a pasta machine. A simple 4-ingredient fresh pasta with Southwestern flavor.

Cajun Chicken Pizza

No tomato and not very cheesy but very delicious. Recipe for the pizza base as well as the topping. Use your own pizza base recipe if you prefer or a store bought one.

Revani (Semolina-Almond Syrup Cake with Syrup)

Greek semolina cake with almonds soaked in cinnamon-orange syrup, scored into diamonds. Traditional Mediterranean dessert.

Tofu-Stuffed French Toast

Stuffed French toast with crumbled tofu, brandy-soaked raisins, currants, and candied peel. Pan-fried golden in butter. A showstopping weekend brunch that freezes beautifully.

Carrot Egg Pasta

Carrot egg pasta, fresh homemade noodles made with durum semolina, eggs and carrot puree for a vibrant orange color and subtle sweetness. A pasta-machine dough that sneaks a vegetable into dinner.

Apricot Corn Pasta

Homemade pasta dough flavored with apricot nectar and cornmeal for a subtle sweetness and unique texture that pairs beautifully with butter or cream sauces.

Squash Bread with Tomatoes, Onions, & Peppers

Rustic Italian yeast bread made with durum semolina flour and loaded with sautéed butternut squash, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Uses a biga starter for deep flavor and makes four golden loaves.

Garlic Oregano Pasta

Fresh homemade garlic and oregano pasta with durum semolina, egg substitute, and minced garlic. Low-cholesterol Italian staple run through a pasta machine for silky strands.

Artichoke & Leek Pizza

Artichoke and leek pizza: fresh baby artichokes braised with pancetta, onions, and sweet leeks, piled onto thin-crust pizza with mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano. A restaurant-worthy springtime slice that looks and tastes like Rome.

Basbousa Bil Loz (Basbousa with Almonds)

Basbousa bil loz (Egyptian almond basbousa) cooks toasted semolina and almonds with butter, then thickens with lemon-scented sugar syrup. A stovetop Middle Eastern dessert.

Pizza Margherita

Classic pizza Margherita with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan baked on a pizza stone at high heat. Thin crust, six ingredients, and ready in under 10 minutes.

All 67 recipes