🫕 Smen
Also known as: samn, samneh
A salted, aged clarified butter of the Maghreb, usually from sheep's or goat's milk. In Morocco it is aged until pungent; old smen is valued more highly.
Smen is a salted, aged (fermented) clarified butter of the Maghreb — Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia — and also a traditional product of Yemen. It is made from butter of sheep’s, goat’s or mixed milk. The butter is brought to the boil, skimmed, strained into a ceramic jar and salted; sometimes toasted fenugreek seeds are added to the boiling butter, and thyme or other herbs as a “starter”. The smen is then aged in sealed jars; traditionally these were buried in the ground for a steady temperature, much as cheese is aged in caves.
Over time smen develops a sharp, cheesy aroma similar to that of an aged cheese; in Morocco old smen is valued more highly than young. In Jordan and Lebanon the word “samneh” refers to a simpler clarified butter that is not aged.
Smen differs from ghee in being salted and aged: ghee is fresh clarified butter, while smen “ripens”. It differs from Ethiopian niter kibbeh in getting its flavour from ageing rather than from a large set of spices. Smen is added to couscous, tagines, harira soup and pastries, often just a spoonful for aroma.
How it connects to milk
🫕 Smen → made from → 🥛 Cow's milk → type of → 🥛 Milk
Links
- Made from
- 🥛 Sheep's milk, 🥛 Goat's milk, 🥛 Cow's milk, 🧈 Butter
- How it is made
- 🔄 Slow baking, 🔄 Ripening
- Where it is traditional
- 🌍 North Africa
- Which peoples make it
- 🧑🤝🧑 Moroccans
- Product type
- 🏺 Traditional dairy products
- Part of
- 🧈 Cream and butter
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between smen and ghee?
Both are clarified butter, but smen is salted and aged until it has a sharp aroma, while ghee is used fresh.
What milk is smen made from?
Usually from butter of sheep’s, goat’s or mixed milk.
How is smen used?
A little is added to couscous, tagines, soups and pastries for a rich aroma.
Similar
🧈 Niter kibbeh · 🫖 Clotted cream · 🧈 Ghee · 🥣 Rømme · 🥛 Öröm · 🥛 Cream
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.