Kunafa Recipe – A Crispy, Cheesy Dessert for Eid
Ingredients
Sugar Syrup:
- Water - 1/2 cup
- Sugar - 1/2 cup
- Lemon Juice - 1 tsp
Kunafa Base:
- Kataifi Shredded Dough - 3 cups
- Nabulsiya Cheese - 1 cup (shredded)
PRO TIP - You can use mozzarella cheese as substitute
- Unsalted Butter - 12 Tbsp (softened)
- Red Food Color
- Pistachio - garnish (chopped)
Kunafa (Knafeh) is a delicious Middle Eastern dessert made with crispy kataifi dough, a rich and gooey cheese filling, and a fragrant sugar syrup drizzle. This festive treat is especially popular during Eid celebrations, bringing together layers of texture and flavor in every bite. The crispy golden strands of kataifi dough are soaked in butter, wrapped around a creamy cheese filling, and cooked until perfectly golden. A drizzle of homemade sugar syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness, while a garnish of pistachios gives it a nutty crunch.
Watch our recipe video for step by step instructions on how to make Knafeh. We’ve included demonstrations and pro tips to help you out in the kitchen! For our Knafeh calories and nutrition information, see the recipe card below.
Instructions
How to Make Kunafa Sugar Syrup:
1) In a saucepan, add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup sugar.
2) Set the stove to low heat and cook the mixture until all of the sugar has dissolved and syrup is translucent.
3) Bring the sugar to a boil for 1 minute, and then turn off the stove.
4) Add 1 tsp lemon juice, mix, and then set aside.
How to Make Homemade Kunafa:
5) Add 3 cups of Kataifi dough into a large bowl. Spread out the threads and cut them into small sections.
6) Add 10 tbsp of softened, unsalted butter to the dough and spread throughout the katafi dough threads.
7) In a small / medium sauce pan, spread 1 tbsp unsalted butter and a small amount of red food color (optional).
8) Add half of the Kataifi butter mixture to the sauce pan and press it gently into the bottom of the pan.
9) Add 1 cup shredded/crumbled nabulsiya cheese on top of the katafi in the middle.
10) Add the remaining half of the Kataifi dough spread evenly over the top and press gently.
11) Place the pan on the stove and cook on very low heat until the bottom and edges are golden brown & crispy - about 6-7 minutes.
PRO TIP: Continuously rotate the pan while cooking for an even color and cook on the bottom.
12) With the help of a plate, flip the kunafa as one piece and cook the other side until it is golden and crispy - about 5-6 minutes.
13) Drizzle the sugar syrup on top of the hot kunafa in the pan, allowing it to soak up the syrup.
14) Decorate with chopped SWAD pistachios and enjoy hot!
Eid Mubarak!
Kunafa (Knafeh) is a delicious Middle Eastern dessert made with crispy kataifi dough, a rich and gooey cheese filling, and a fragrant sugar syrup drizzle. This festive treat is especially popular during Eid celebrations, bringing together layers of texture and flavor in every bite. The crispy golden strands of kataifi dough are soaked in butter, wrapped around a creamy cheese filling, and cooked until perfectly golden. A drizzle of homemade sugar syrup adds just the right amount of sweetness, while a garnish of pistachios gives it a nutty crunch.
Watch our recipe video for step by step instructions on how to make Knafeh. We’ve included demonstrations and pro tips to help you out in the kitchen! For our Knafeh calories and nutrition information, see the recipe card below.
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