Kunafa

Ingredients

• 200 grams kunafa dough
• Butter, at room temperature for applying
• Melted butter for drizzling
• 1 cup cream cheese
• ½ teaspoon rose water
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• Dried rose petals for garnish
• Pistachio powder for garnish
• Blanched and peeled pistachios for garnish

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
2. Break the kunafa dough into small pieces.
3. Generously apply the butter on the bottom and the sides of a 6 inch pie dish. Sprinkle half of the kunafa dough and spread it evenly. Drizzle melted butter and press the dough firmly on the bottom and the sides of the pie dish.
4. Whisk the cream cheese till smooth. Add rose water and mix well. Put this mixture into the lined pie dish over the kunafa dough and spread it evenly. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and spread the remaining kunafa dough over it. Drizzle melted butter on top and press it evenly from all sides.
5. Place the pie dish into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.
6. To make sugar syrup, heat sugar and ½ cup water in a deep pan and mix well. Cook till the sugar melts and the mixture reaches one string consistency. Take the pan off the heat.
7. Remove the pie dish from the oven, flip the kunafa onto a plate. Drizzle the warm sugar syrup over, garnish with pistachios powder, dried rose petals and blanched pistachios. Slice and serve hot.