Kunafa: The heavenly delight captivating taste buds worldwide
Kunafa, a dessert with an exotic name, is a true feast for the palate. Crispy kadaif pastry, creamy filling, and sweet syrup create a composition that transports you straight to the land of delight. One bite of this oriental cake will make you feel like you're in heaven, and its appearance will linger in your memory long after you've had the last piece.
Kunafa is a dessert that has been winning the hearts of gourmets in the Middle East for centuries. Although the list of ingredients is not long, the simplicity of this pastry is what makes it so special. The secret lies in the perfect combination of crispy kadaif pastry, creamy cheese, and aromatic syrup. Hot kunafa, served with chopped pistachios, is a feast for the palate that takes you to culinary heaven from the first bite.
Kunafa – a traditional Middle Eastern dessert with an unforgettable taste
Kunafa is one of the most recognisable sweet dishes in Arabic cuisine. Known and adored in countries like Turkey, Egypt, and Lebanon, it has many regional variants. The base is kadaif pastry, thin strands of dough that become incredibly crispy after baking. The cake's interior is filled with melted cheese that stretches into appetising threads when pulled with a spoon. A sweet syrup with a hint of rose or orange blossom water completes the whole.
Kunafa can be served warm, allowing you to appreciate its unique contrast of textures and flavours fully. It's a dessert that is perfect as a sweet ending to a family dinner or a special treat for a gathering with friends.
How to prepare kunafa at home?
Despite its exotic origins, kunafa is not difficult to prepare. You need a few basic ingredients to make it:
Ingredients:
- 340 grams of kadaif pastry (can be purchased ready-made or prepared yourself),
- 140 grams of clarified butter,
- 340 grams of akkawi cheese or mozzarella,
- chopped pistachios for decoration.
For the syrup:
- 1 cup of sugar,
- 180 millilitres of water,
- 2 tablespoons of rose or orange blossom water,
- a piece of lemon.
Preparation:
- Prepare the syrup by cooking sugar, water, and lemon, then adding rose water.
- Melt the butter and mix with chopped kadaif pastry.
- Line a pan with pastry, add cheese, and cover with the remaining pastry.
- Bake at 175°C for 30-35 minutes.
- Pour hot syrup over the cake and decorate with pistachios.
Kunafa – a dessert that transports you to the land of delight
Kunafa is a dessert that impresses with its simplicity and richness of flavours. Its crispy texture, creamy filling, and sweet syrup create a composition that transports you straight to the land of delight. Serve kunafa to your guests and make them feel like they're in heaven.
