nafàà soup

Ingredients for 8 people. Cooking time :45 minutes (approx.):

* 2 litres (4 pts) of hot water * 3/4 of a soup-bowlful of coarse semolina

* 1/2 teaspoonful of pepper * 1 good pinch of saffron * 1 knob of butter the size of a walnut

* 2 teaspoonfuls of ground nafaã (aniseed) * salt

Preparation: 

Pour the semolina into hot (not boiling) water, put on the heat and add the pepper, saffron and butter, stirring gently.Bring to boil and continue stirring from time to time . Cook on a low heat for about half an hour. When the semolina is cooked, soft and swollen, add the aniseed diluted in a little water, stir and remove from the heat, If the semolina absorbs more water than allowed for add a little more.Serve with dates.