DessertsDifficulty: easy
Knafeh (Levantine Cheese Pastry)
Shredded kataifi pastry soaked in orange-blossom syrup over a layer of stretchy melted cheese — the show-stopping dessert of Nablus, served warm so the cheese pulls.
30
Prep Time
40
Cook Time
8
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
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1Toss the kataifi with melted butter, rubbing to coat every strand. Press two thirds into a buttered round tray to form an even base.
2Mix cheese with sugar, spread over the base, cover with the remaining kataifi. Bake at 180°C for 30-35 minutes until deep golden.
3Make a syrup with sugar, water and lemon; cool slightly, add orange blossom water. Pour cold syrup over the hot knafeh.
4Rest 10 minutes, invert onto a serving tray, shower with pistachios and serve warm so the cheese stretches.
Chef's Tip
- Cold syrup over hot pastry — never reversed — lets the kataifi absorb sweetness while staying crisp.
More tips ↓Show less ↑
- Soaking akkawi cheese removes excess salt so the sweet-salty contrast reads balanced.
- Butter-coating every strand individually is what turns shredded pastry into a continuous golden crust.
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