Syrian Cuisine
๐Ÿฎ dessertRank #15medium

Kanafeh

Kanafeh is a rich and sweet Middle Eastern dessert made with shredded phyllo dough or semolina dough, filled with soft cheese, and soaked in aromatic sugar syrup. It is cherished for its contrasting textures of crispy crust and gooey cheese, often garnished with crushed pistachios. This dessert holds cultural significance as a celebratory dish during religious and festive occasions in Syria and the Levant.

8 ingredients
sweetfloralnuttycreamybuttery
Levantine70%
Ottoman30%

Ingredients

  • kataifi (shredded phyllo dough)
    500 grams
  • unsalted white cheese (such as Nabulsi or Akkawi)
    300 grams
  • unsalted butter
    150 grams
  • granulated sugar
    2 cups
  • water
    1 cup
  • lemon juice
    1 tbsp
  • rose water or orange blossom water
    1 tbsp
  • crushed pistachios
    1/2 cup

Method

Steps not available

Kanafeh has origins tracing back to the Levant region, including Syria, where it evolved as a unique sweet that combines local cheese and pastry traditions, becoming a symbol of hospitality and festivity.

Ingredient ancestry breakdown

Levantine70%
ingredients+techniques
Ottoman30%
ingredient_origin
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