Kunafa | Guest Recipes | Nigella's Recipes (2024)

This is possibly one of the most ubiquitous pastries across the Middle East, and one of the most intimidating to Western cooks because of the stringy, vermicelli-like kataifi pastry that is used to make it. In fact, kunafa is such a simple dessert to make that it can be on the table within an hour of turning the oven on to heat.

Traditionally, kunafa is made with akawi cheese, a salty, halloumi-like cheese common in the Middle East, but as it requires 48 hours of soaking time to draw out the salt I have suggested the more readily available mozzarella, which gives a similar result.

This is possibly one of the most ubiquitous pastries across the Middle East, and one of the most intimidating to Western cooks because of the stringy, vermicelli-like kataifi pastry that is used to make it. In fact, kunafa is such a simple dessert to make that it can be on the table within an hour of turning the oven on to heat.

Traditionally, kunafa is made with akawi cheese, a salty, halloumi-like cheese common in the Middle East, but as it requires 48 hours of soaking time to draw out the salt I have suggested the more readily available mozzarella, which gives a similar result.

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  Middle Eastern Sweets

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6/400°F.
2. Place the pastry in a bowl and pour over the melted butter. Use your hands to separate the strands and distribute the butter evenly among them.
3. Pack half the buttery pastry into the base of a 20-cm (8-inch) round ovenproof pan, making sure some of the pastry rises up the sides. Press gently down all over with the base of a glass to ensure the pastry is packed down tightly.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the mozzarella and ricotta. Spread the cheese mixture over the pastry in the pan and cover with the remaining pastry. Pack down again with the base of a glass.
5. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes until crisp and golden.
6. While the pastry is baking, make the syrup. Put the sugar into a saucepan with the lemon zest and juice and 120 ml / ½ cup of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 8–10 minutes until the mixture reaches a syrupy consistency.
7. Pour the syrup over the pastry as soon as it comes out of the oven, then allow to rest in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out on to a plate.
8. Top with the chopped pistachios and rose petals, and cut into 4 slices to serve.

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6/400°F.
2. Place the pastry in a bowl and pour over the melted butter. Use your hands to separate the strands and distribute the butter evenly among them.
3. Pack half the buttery pastry into the base of a 20-cm (8-inch) round ovenproof pan, making sure some of the pastry rises up the sides. Press gently down all over with the base of a glass to ensure the pastry is packed down tightly.
4. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the mozzarella and ricotta. Spread the cheese mixture over the pastry in the pan and cover with the remaining pastry. Pack down again with the base of a glass.
5. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes until crisp and golden.
6. While the pastry is baking, make the syrup. Put the sugar into a saucepan with the lemon zest and juice and 120 ml / ½ cup of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 8–10 minutes until the mixture reaches a syrupy consistency.
7. Pour the syrup over the pastry as soon as it comes out of the oven, then allow to rest in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out on to a plate.
8. Top with the chopped pistachios and rose petals, and cut into 4 slices to serve.