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Middle Eastern Kunafah with Simple Ingredients Recipe

★★★★★

4.4 from 101 reviews
  • Author: Mariam
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Description

This Middle Eastern Kunafah recipe uses simple ingredients to create a rich and flavorful dessert featuring layers of buttery kunafa dough, melted mozzarella cheeses, and a fragrant orange blossom sugar syrup. Crispy and golden with a sweet, floral syrup soaked in, it’s garnished with chopped pistachios for a delightful finish. Perfect for anyone looking to enjoy an authentic kunafah experience made in the oven.

Ingredients

Scale

Kunafa Layers

  • 8 oz kunafa dough (thawed)
  • 1/2 cup ghee or clarified butter (melted)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 1/4 cups soft mozzarella cheese in water (roughly chopped)

Sugar Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon orange blossom water

Garnish

  • Chopped pistachios

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the kunafa.
  2. Prepare Kunafa Dough: In a large bowl, gently separate the thawed kunafa dough strands to loosen them, allowing smaller pieces to crisp up nicely during baking.
  3. Mix Butter and Sugar: Pour the melted ghee over the loosened dough, sprinkle with granulated sugar, and mix thoroughly to coat all strands evenly by pulling and tossing the dough gently.
  4. Layer Bottom Dough: Press half of the buttered dough into the bottom of a 10.5-inch round baking pan, spreading and pressing it firmly to form an even base.
  5. Add Cheese Layer: Evenly distribute the shredded mozzarella and roughly chopped soft mozzarella cheese over the bottom dough layer.
  6. Top with Remaining Dough: Spread the remaining buttered dough on top of the cheese layer and press down firmly using the back of a measuring cup or a glass for compact layering.
  7. Bake Kunafa: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the kunafa is golden brown and crispy on top.
  8. Prepare Syrup: While baking, combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the orange blossom water. Let cool.
  9. Add Syrup to Kunafa: Once baked, immediately pour the cooled syrup evenly over the hot kunafa to soak in the sweetness.
  10. Cool and Serve: Let the kunafa cool for a few minutes, then invert it onto a serving plate. Garnish with chopped pistachios and serve warm.

Notes

  • Ensure the kunafa dough is fully thawed and loosened for even layering and crispiness.
  • Use good quality mozzarella for best melty texture; mixing shredded and soft mimics traditional cheeses.
  • Be careful when pouring syrup over hot kunafa to prevent over-saturation.
  • Serving warm allows the cheese to be gooey and syrup to be well absorbed.
  • Ghee can be substituted with clarified butter for authentic flavor, but melted butter may also be used.
  • If you prefer, substitute orange blossom water with rose water for a different floral aroma.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keywords: Kunafah, Middle Eastern dessert, mozzarella cheese dessert, orange blossom syrup, pistachio garnish, traditional kunafah, baked kunafah

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Find it online: https://aromaofgrandma.com/middle-eastern-kunafah-with-simple-ingredients-recipe/