Konafa/Knefeh

Posted on 15. Sep, 2008 by Bethany in Desserts, Recipes, breakfast, middle eastern, veggie

Konafa 

Konafa, also pronounced Knefeh, a decadently rich, creamy, cheesy, crunchy, sweet and savory desert, is very popular during Ramadan. So I thought it couldn’t be more appropriate timing, being that it is Holy Ramadan at the moment. I have added apples as a twist to this recipe, as I am entering it into a recipe contest being held by http://keyingredient.com/ calling for a recipe that includes the key ingredient Apple. So here it is, it’s simple, easy and quick!

For the Konafa/Knefeh

500 grams kataifi pastry-shredded phyllo pastry

300 grams unsalted butter, melted

750 grams Ricotta cheese

2 Apples, finely sliced

1 cup of chopped pistachios

1 cup of chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the Kater (Syrup)

4 cups of sugar

2 cups of water

2 teaspoons of rose water

2 tablespoons chopped pistachios

1 teaspoon lemon juice

For the Konafa/knefeh: 

Place butter in a saucepan and begin melting

IMG_6973 

Put Kataifi pastry in a bowl and add the melted butter. Toss it around in the butter making sure it is evenly covered with the butter.

.IMG_6968     IMG_6977 

Separate it into 2 halfs. Butter the 9 x 12 inch dish all around

IMG_6969

Evenly spread half of the pastry at the bottom of the dish

IMG_6983

add the ricotta cheese

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and evenly spread across with a butter knife

 IMG_6995  

add sliced apples and sprinkle with cinnamon

IMG_7001 

Add walnuts and pistachios

IMG_7005 

Evenly spread and cover with the remaining pastry

IMG_7007 

Now, place in a preheated oven gas 170c for 25 minutes. Now, begin making the Kater as per recipe below. 


For the kater/Syrup:

IMG_7059 

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan, stir over heat until sugar is dissolved and bring to a boil. Set aside and let Cool. 

Drizzle Kater LIBERALLY all over and enjoy! Sahtein!

Love Bethx

Tags: Apples, cheese pie, Phyllo, Pistachios, Ramadan, Ricotta cheese, Syrup

15 Responses to “Konafa/Knefeh”

  1. ude

    15. Sep, 2008

    this looks… very…
    *OMG* I`m hungry now !!!!
    I need to have a bite of this !!!!!!

  2. jo-c

    16. Sep, 2008

    wow wow wow! This is so impressive. And you are right, great timing for Ramadan. I can’t wait to taste Knefeh with apples, how interesting :)

  3. Hala Bahouth

    16. Sep, 2008

    It is a mouthwatering recipe.
    I will soon try it,
    thanx for sharing ur tips .

  4. Rosa

    16. Sep, 2008

    Wow, wonderful! A scrumptious dessert!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  5. This looks so exotic! (Exotic to me, at least.) Intriguing. I don’t think I’ve tasted this before but I want to now. Thanks!

  6. fat burning

    21. Sep, 2008

    Please link to this site.

  7. Manggy

    24. Sep, 2008

    Oh, how beautiful! We don’t get kataifi here, though– I didn’t know it came in such fine strands!

  8. Bethany

    24. Sep, 2008

    Hello Manggy, Kataifi can also be purchased very fine strands/shredded. I’m going to get the recipe to make Kataifi from my Aunt and will hopefully post it up. Thanks for the comment!

  9. [...] Dirty Kitchen Secrets [...]

  10. Timeless Gourmet

    26. Sep, 2008

    This looks great – I would love some now! I’d also love to know how to make the Kataifi.

  11. Choosy Beggar Tina

    29. Sep, 2008

    Oh my oh my. K’nefeh is one of my FAVOURITES (I still call them ‘birds nest squares’) and the apple addition would be such a great balance. Well done!

  12. zenchef

    02. Nov, 2008

    Oh this is just perfect!
    I’m always looking for new things to do with Kataifi. Thanks. I love it! :-)

  13. Peggy

    15. Oct, 2009

    Hi Bethany, thx for the great recipes posted,
    but I think this is osmalliyyeh not kneffeh. The kneffeh dough is made out of semolina. Correct me if I am wrong?!!?!

  14. Bethany

    16. Oct, 2009

    Hello Peggy.

    Thanks for stopping by. Knefeh dough comes in many variations. Yes you are right that one of those variations is from semolina and is refered to as the “fine” version in lebanon. Usually you can also cut up the phyllo very small (which I do sometimes, depending on time)

    Please note that this knefeh is not the authentic recipe but my version; I don’t use the authentic nabulsi cheese, I use either ricotta or mascarpone and like to add vanilla. Also, sometimes they add orange food coloring to the kataifi.

  15. Mike

    25. Jan, 2010

    Oh god its so mouthwatering!

    Seems like i need a taste for it nice mate!

"I'm tickled pink to have you here & I'd love to hear from you! So, drop me a note, exchange your secrets or just have a nibble x"

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c3Ryb25nPndvb190d2l0dGVyPC9zdHJvbmc+IC0gZGtzZm9vZDwvbGk+PGxpPjxzdHJvbmc+d29vX3ZpZGVvX2NhdGVnb3J5PC9zdHJvbmc+IC0gU2VsZWN0IGEgY2F0ZWdvcnk6PC9saT48L3VsPg==