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Kanafeh Sweet Cheese Pastry

You may not have ever heard of Kanafeh before, but once you make it, it’s sure to be a dish you crave all the time. Kanafeh is a traditional Arabic dessert made with cheese, pastry and nuts that has been soaked in a delicious sugar-based syrup. It’s extremely well-known and well-loved in countries in the Middle East and Mediterranean, and while it’s very simple to make, it’s delectably rich.
 
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 6-8 servings
Difficulty: Easy

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb. packet (375 mg) kataifi, thawed as directed on package
  • ½ Cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 Cup mozzarella, grated
  • 2 Cups feta, grated
  • 1 Cup pistachios, crushed
  • ½ Cup sugar
  • ½ Cup water
  • 1 tsp orange blossom water
  • ¼ cup honey

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (200°C)
  2. Loosen the kataifi and then chop into small pieces, about 3 cm wide. Place it into a Swiss Diamond Nonstick Sauteuse and pour the melted butter over the top. Mix with your hands to ensure the all of the pastry soaks into the butter.
  3. Remove half the pastry and place in the bottom of a round, oven-proof dish and scatter the cheese and pistachios over the top. Layer the remaining pastry over the top, ensuring an even distribution. Press it down firmly. Place in the oven to bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown.
  4. In a small Swiss Diamond Saucepan, add the sugar, water, orange blossom water and honey and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir until the sugar has melted.
  5. Remove the kanafeh from the oven and allow to cool slightly. Pour the sugar syrup over the top. Allow to sit and soak in the syrup for at least 15 minutes before turning onto a serving plate.

*Pro tip: Watch the end of the video to get the Good Chef Bad Chef tips on how to flip the pastry out of the pan and onto the serving plate with ease.