Knafeh

Submitted by Palis Favorites

"You can't go to Palestine and not eat knafeh every night! Very delicious dessert that is easy to make :) A syrian sweet cheese is normally used with this, some people use ricotta cheese but it changes the taste and consistency of this dish, but it can be used. I make my own cheese and do not add salt to it so I can use it with this recipe, but store bought sweet cheese works just fine :)"

 

• Ready In: 1hr
• Ingredients: 9
• Yields: 1 tray

ingredients

• 1 lb shredded phyllo dough (knafeh dough)
• 2 lbs sweet cheese
• 1 - 1 1⁄2 cup rendered butter
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
• 1⁄4 cup pine nuts
• 1 teaspoon knafeh food coloring
• 1⁄4 cup pistachios, chopped
• 2 cups thin syrup (attar)

directions

1. Mix cheese, sugar, and orange blossom water together.
2. Chop knafeh dough with a sharp knife. Mix with 1 3/4 cups hot butter over low fire for 15 minutes, or until dough absorbs all the butter.
3. Mix 1/4 cup butter, knafeh coloring, and spread in a 17x12 inch pan. Sprinkle pine nuts evenly.
4. Spread 2/3 of the dough in the pan over the nuts and press well. Spread the cheese mixture over dough evenly. Cover with the rest of the dough and press well.
5. Bake at 400 degrees in a preheated oven for 30 minutes. (Place on lower rack).
6. Add thin attar. Flip the tray over in another tray of the same size. Return to the oven and bake for 10 more minutes.
7. Garnish with pistachios and serve hot!