Knafeh
Knafeh is a traditional Lebanese dessert made from thin noodle-like pastry soaked in syrup and layered with a rich cheese filling. This sweet treat is often topped with crushed pistachios and served warm for a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.
Lebanese · 70 min · 8 servings · Guadalupe F.
Ingredients
- 500 g kataifi pastry, shredded
- 250 g unsalted cheese, such as Akkawi or mozzarella
- 200 g butter, melted
- 200 g sugar
- 250 ml water
- 1 tbsp rose water
- 50 g pistachios, crushed
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- In a saucepan, combine water and sugar, bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Add rose water and orange blossom water, stir, and set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, mix the shredded kataifi pastry with melted butter until well combined.
- Spread half of the kataifi mixture evenly in a greased baking dish. Press down firmly to create a base.
- Layer the cheese evenly over the kataifi base, then top with the remaining kataifi mixture, pressing down gently.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
- Once baked, pour the cooled syrup over the hot knafeh and let it soak for a few minutes.
- Sprinkle the crushed pistachios on top before serving.