Are you making delicious kunafa today at home?
Kunafa! A conventional Middle Eastern dessert that is made with fine dough with sweet sugary syrup, layering of cheese, and a shower of cream or nuts. Kunafa is now an overnight sensation, and people love it madly.
Let’s discuss in this article which is the best kunafa recipe?
Origin of Kunafa: Where it comes from?
Kunafa has a long history that dates back to the Middle East. The Kunafa origin nation is usually considered to be in the Levant region, which includes Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, and has cultural and historical significance. Certain stories claim it dates back to ancient Egypt. The dish is typically made with kataifi, a dough that resembles thin noodles, and filled with cheese, cream, or other delectable ingredients. It is then steeped in a sweet syrup.
According to historians, Kunafa was a special feast served during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Some also consider a dish of goodwill made and shared after resolving a conflict.
After a long fast, this dessert left people feeling comfortable and fulfilled. Nablus, a city in Palestine generally connected with the Kunafa origin country, is famous for producing the world’s largest Kunafa, which has earned it international attention.
Whatever is true, we can agree that it is a good treat.
Types Of Kunafa you need to know
You probably have heard about a simple Kunafa, but here are the popular types of Kunafa
- Kunafa Khishneh (rough): This type has a crunchy top and bottom made from long, thin noodle threads.
- Kunafa Naameh (fine): This type of kunafa is softer and made with finely ground Kunafa dough made from semolina flour.
- Kunafa Mabroomeh (rolls): In this Kunafa, there are long, thin noodle threads wrapped around cheese to make little rolls.
- Kunafa Bayn Narain: In this kunafa, there are two layers of dough with cheese or cream stuffed in the middle—like a Kunafa sandwich.
How To Make Kunafa?
It is almost the same technique with the same ingredients, with slight changes to make Kunafa all over the Middle East. Let’s check what most Palestinian people make!
Ingredients:
Take about 500 grams of Kataifi. You can find them in any Middle East section of the store.
- Take 1 cup of ghee. Ghee is clarified butter; get it from grocery stores or simply make it at home. Brown the butter and then strain out the brown bits. Your ghee is ready.
- Take Nabulsi, which is a sweet cheese, but if you do not have it, you can opt for ricotta cheese
- Take a decent amount of mozzarella Cheese.
- Take 1-2 cups to make sugar syrup
- Take some chopped pistachios. You can also soak them in water to make them tender.
How To Make It
Let us check the step-by-step preparation of Kunafa.
Step 1: Preparing Kataifi
Got kataifi? Shred it into small strands that are one to three inches long using your hands or a knife. Add the melted ghee to the kataifi after combining it with the knafeh food colouring.
Step 2: Preparing Cheese
Is your cheese too salty? Soak it in water for at least two hours. Cut it into slices and soak the moisture of cheese.
Step 3: Layering The Kunafa
First of all, grease the pan, add ghee or melted butter and brush it all over the pan you’re using. Spread your Kunafa dough evenly on the pan. Press the dough down firmly, you can use your hands or a cup.
Now add the sweet cheese or nabulsi over the kataifi base. On top of that, add the mozzarella cheese.
Press again the cheese layer. Finally, bake it.
Step 4: Bake It
Preheat the oven to 450°F and then bake it for 25 minutes until you see it becoming golden and crispy.
Step 5: Prepare The Syrup
Prepare the sugar syrup by adding sugar, water, and boil it. Cook it for just 1-2 minutes, and you will see sugar has dissolved. Remove it from the heat and let it cool down.
Another Kunafa recipe?
Here is one more recipe in which you can add Kunafa:
- Cookie Cream Kunafa:
Ingredients
- Kataifi dough
- Ghee
- Crushed chocolate cookies
- Cream cheese or sweet cheese
- Whipped cream
Preparation
Prepare the Kunafa base as discussed above, then make the cream filling. Take a bowl, mix the cream cheese with some whipped cream. Add crushed cookies and mix.
Add this cookie-cream mixture over the pressed dough. Cover the filling with the rest of the kataifi dough.
Press it down gently.
How to Make Syrup:
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- A few drops of lemon juice
Take a small pot, add sugar and water.
Heat it until it starts boiling.
Conclusion
And here you go, get ready to make Kunafa with a super-duper easy recipe. Whether you’re making it the Palestinian way or trying it with Cookies and Cream Kunafa, you will impress everyone with it.
It is a perfect treat for anyone who has a sweet tooth. So, what are you waiting for?
Grab your ingredients now, preheat the oven, and treat yourself to a taste of something truly special tonight. Enjoy the treat and share it with loved ones, too. 😊
