Kunafa

#middleastern #dessert #kunafa #vermicelli #sweet #globaldessert

Till a week back, I was unaware of this name until when one of my close friends spoke about it in our evening chat sessions. He asked me to try making it. He suggested that I am gonna love it. It's sweet, crunchy, cheesy, and filling at the same time. Post a preliminary round of questioning him about what exactly is the taste and texture like, I turned to our very own and local Google Baba, where I got few youtube videos where few of the people have tried their hands in it. Usually, I spend 15-20 days before actually experimenting with a dish, collecting its ingredients, and researching about its dos and donts to get it perfect in the first go. But when I came across Kunafa, this seemed very easy and interesting to make. All the ingredients are something so simple that they are easily available in all our homes. So now let me take you on the journey of making this simple yet tasty (and very heavy) Middle Eastern dessert called Kunafa.

Ingredients:

Half cup sugar.

1/4th teaspoon lemon juice.

3-4 dried petals of saffron/ zafran.

Three tablespoons of butter.

Vermicelli - Boiled, dried, and broken into finest pieces - three cups.

Ricotta cheese - or grated paneer - 1/2 cup.

Mozzarella cheese - or any salted cheese - grated1/2 cup.

Finely chopped pistachios for the topping.

Pinch of food coloring - either yellow or red.

How to prepare:

1. First, let us prepare the sugar syrup needed for the topping. For this, in a saucepan, pour half a cup of sugar and add one cup of plain water. Bring this to a boil. Add in the lemon juice and saffron leaves. (You can also use rosewater or kewra water, as per your liking of taste.) Once boiled, check if the sugar has completely dissolved and the mixture has thickened up. Now, keep it aside for cooling.

2. In a bowl, pour in vermicelli and break it using hands, to the finest pieces. Now, add two tablespoons of butter to it and mix well. Take half of it and keep it aside. In the other half add the pinch of food coloring and mix well.

3. Now, take a baking pan or a nonstick pan. (Baking pan if you are using the oven, non-stick pan if you are making it on the stove). Brush it well in the bottom with butter.

4. Now, take the colored vermicelli and spread a layer on the bottom. Press it firmly using a spatula. Now, spread grated ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese on it. Press them firmly. Now take the non-colored vermicelli and spread a layer of it on top. Spread it well and press firmly.

5. Press the corners lightly but firmly. Now, keep it on the stove for 15-20 minutes. Let it cook from one side and then flip it over carefully for the other side. When both the sides turn brown, then it's done. If you are using a convection oven, then keep it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Keep it checking every once in a while.

6. When it is done, let it cool down and then pour over the sugar syrup. Top it over with pistachio. Let it cool and serve it.

This is one of a very easy and delicious dish that can be served as desserts post a light meal. Remember, it's very heavy due to cheese, butter, and dry fruits that go in it. So, have your tummy empty to fill it up with this. The kunafa dough and the filling inside can be made of multiple options like potato, chicken, and even mixed vegetables. Let me know if your family and friends love this recipe or any of its variations.

Happy Kunafa cooking!!!!