Cheese Kunafa Recipes

KANAFA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Use a food processor to finely chop the frozen, shredded phyllo dough. The strands should be about the size of a grain of rice. Pour the dough into a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup sugar.
• Place the butter in a large liquid measuring cup or bowl with a spout. Heat the butter in a microwave until completely melted, and let it sit for several minutes until a thick white foam has formed on top. Clarify the butter by using a spoon to skim off the foam.
• Carefully pour the butter into the bowl of phyllo dough. Avoid pouring in the white milk solids at the bottom of the clarified butter. Use your hands to mix the butter and dough together. Make sure that the butter is absorbed by taking handfuls of the dough and rubbing it between your palms.
• Evenly spread the buttered phyllo dough into a 9x13-inch pan and firmly press it into the bottom and edges. Spread the cheese mixture onto the dough, avoiding the edges of the pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is slightly golden and the edges of dough are brown and bubbly, 30 to 35 minutes.
• While the kanafa is baking, prepare the syrup. Combine the water and 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the lemon juice. Simmer, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. (Do not let the mixture turn golden and caramelize.) Remove from heat and add the rose water; set aside.
• Remove the kanafa from the oven. Place a large platter or baking sheet over the baking dish. Using oven mitts, carefully invert the baking dish onto the platter so the phyllo is on top. Pour the syrup over the kanafa. Cut into pieces and serve while hot.

KUNAFA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200ºC.
• Place the pastry in a bowl and pour over the melted butter. Use your hands to separate the strands and distribute the butter evenly among them.
• Pack half the buttery pastry into the base of an 8-inch (20-cm) round ovenproof pan, making sure some of the pastry rises up the sides. Press gently down all over with the base of a glass to ensure the pastry is packed down tightly.
• In a separate mixing bowl, combine the mozzarella and ricotta. Spread the cheese mixture over the pastry in the pan and cover with the remaining pastry. Pack down again with the base of a glass.
• Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes until crisp and golden.
• While the pastry is baking, make the syrup. Put the sugar into a saucepan with the lemon zest and juice and ½ cup (4 fl oz. or 120 ml) of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 8-10 minutes until the mixture reaches a syrupy consistency.
• Pour the syrup over the pastry as soon as it comes out of the oven, then allow to rest in the pan for 5 minutes before turning out on to a plate.
• Top with the chopped pistachios and rose petals, and cut into 4 slices to serve.

KUNEFE (A SWEET CHEESE PASTRY MADE WITH KADAIFI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375ºF.
• Place kadafi in a food processor and chop up finely.
• Add butter and milk and line a 8 inch square heavy baking dish with half of this mixture.
• Mix the cheeses with the pistachios, sugar& nutmeg and spread onto shredded filo.
• Top with the remaining shredded pastry.
• Bake for 45 minutes.
• Make a sugar syrup by boiling water with sugar and lemon juice.
• Cook until reduced by a third and it becomes nice and thick.
• Stir in rose water to taste.
• When kunefe comes out of the oven, ladle 2/3 of the hot syrup over it and save the rest to pass while eating.
• Serve hot.

KUNAFA THE TRADITIONALLY DESERT

Steps:

• 1. In a heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, add water, the 1 1/2 cups sugar and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Let simmer to a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat, let cool and add rosewater or vanilla.
• 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees Celsius Butter a 12-inch round, 2-inch high cake pan.
• 3. In a large bowl gently loosen kataifi. Mix very well with the 1/2 pound of melted butter. Place blanched almonds in a decorative pattern in the cake pan. Cover with half of the kataifi. Press down lightly.
• 4. If using the ricotta cheese, spread in an even layer over kataifi, then cover with the remaining half of the kataifi. Press down gently.
• 5. If using the raisins and walnuts sprinkle an even layer over kataifi. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Cover with the remainig half of the kataifi. Press down gently.
• 6. Bake until lightly golden, about 30 to 45 minutes. (Note: the reverse side will be more golden when you turn it out.)
• 7. Immediately pour cold sugar syrup evenly over the hot kunafa. Let cool completely to room temperature. Invert onto serving plate.
• 8. If using the ricotta cheese, kunafa should be served warm or hot. It may be difficult to invert with the ricotta filling so cut and serve from pan.