Kunafe is a popular Middle Eastern dessert that is enjoyed throughout the region and beyond. It is also known as Knafeh or Kunafa. It's a sweet, cheese-filled pastry made of shredded phyllo dough and a soft, white cheese like Akkawi or Nabulsi. The pastry is then soaked in a sweet syrup made of sugar, water, and rose or orange blossom water, which imparts a sweet and floral flavor to it.
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
Course Arabic Kitchen, Dessert Recipes
Cuisine Middle East
Servings 1 servings
Calories 300 kcal
For Sugar Syrup: 1 cup Water 1/2 cup Sugar 3 Green cardamom 1 tsp Kewra water For Kunafa: 200 g Fried vermicelli (pheni) 1/2 cup Butter melted 1/2 tsp Orange food color (optional) 200 g Ricotta Cheese/cream cheese 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
Sugar Syrup: In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, and green cardamom.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in kewra water. Set aside to cool.
Kunafe: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a mixing bowl, combine fried vermicelli, melted butter, and orange food color. Mix until well coated.
Press half of the vermicelli mixture into the bottom of a greased baking dish.
In another bowl, mix together ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese. Spread evenly over the vermicelli layer.
Top with the remaining vermicelli mixture, pressing gently to compact.
Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from oven and pour the prepared sugar syrup over the hot Kunafe.
Allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Keyword Knafeh, Kunafa, Kunafe