Last Updated on July 13, 2020 by hungryoungwoman
This cheese kunafa dessert recipe is going to blow your mind. Why? It’s the simplest thing and I just discovered it! Blame it on my ongoing craving for the dessert, the good blame I mean…
So, I’ve been visiting a few Iftar buffets lately which explains why this craving of cheese knafeh was triggered. I figured it would be much affordable if I tried making kunafa cheese at home. I later discovered it needs only 3 ingredients. Can you believe it?
SEE: How to Make Jhinga (Prawn) Masala: Recipe
Preparation of Cheese Kunafa Dessert
For this cheese kunafa recipe, you will need kataifi shredded pastry dough which is the one that serves as the top and bottom layer of the dessert, mozzarella, and sugar syrup. I used Sunbulah for the kunafa, but you can choose any brand available.
I like prepping my mozzarella cheese with sugar before the process as I’m not too much a fan of sugar syrup drenched kunafa. Anyone for that crispy exterior? In case you prefer a soft kunafa, then I’d suggest you skip this part.
If you want to go authentic with the presentation, you can bake your kunafa in this aluminum round pan to ensure that the shape is consistent for all the kunafa you bake
Want to download this easy kunafa recipe? Click here to get your FREE copy!
The result is a cheesy kunafa that will just make you thank whoever invented this dessert! Read on for the kunafe cheese recipe…
How to Make Kunafa With Cheese:
First layer of kataifi pastry dough
Cheese Kunafa Recipe
A cheesy kunafa recipe that is so easy, that it uses only 3 ingredients!
CourseDessert
CuisineArabic, Middle Eastern
Keywordcheese kunafa recipe, knafeh, kunafa, kunafe, recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 servings
Author Hungryoungwoman
Ingredients
- 500gm Kataifi pastry doughshredded
- 300gm mozzarella cheeseshredded
- 1cupsugar syrup
- Rose wateroptional
Instructions
To make your sugar syrup, add 1 cup sugar to 1 1/2 cup of water in a pan under medium heat. Let it simmer and keep stirring occasionally until the sugar completely dissolves. This should take you roughly 5 minutes. Add a teaspoon of rose water if you're using it
Prep your shredded mozzarella with about 2 tbsp of sugar and let sit for a while till you finish the next step
Next comes your pastry dough which is usually frozen. Shred it with your hands or in a food processor once room temperature till it's thin. Coat the dough with 1 cup of ghee and mix
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius
To line your baking container, first, coat it with ghee and then add half of the dough into the container and let sit tightly
Try lining the sides of the container with the dough so that it is able to hold the cheese
Add your shredded cheese and make sure to cover the whole container evenly
Last comes the other half of your dough to cover up the kunafa
Bake in the oven for about 40-45 minutes until the surface is golden brown
Let sit outside for 15 minutes till it cools a bit and then run a knife along the sides to make sure the kunafa isn't sticking
Now, flip your kunafa onto a serving dish and drizzle with your preferred amount of sugar syrup
Garnish with pistachio (optional)
Click here to download a FREE recipe printable that you can download!
Other ingredient options: I admit this might not be the most authentic kunafa cheese recipe, however, it still tastes closely the same. You can use orange blossom water which also adds flavor and is used in the authentic kunafa recipe. The orange color is achieved due to Kunafa coloring, but I chose not to use this.
What cheese is used in kunafa?
Authentically, the best cheese for kunafa is usually Akkawi cheese. This cheese is chewy and a little salty so it strikes a nice balance between the saltiness and the sweet sugar syrup.
This is also why we have alternated the kunafa ingredients to make this kunafa with mozzarella cheese recipe for its texture so that you are not compromising on the quality. This makes it the best mozzarella kunafa recipe since it is so easy!
Next time if someone asks you originally which cheese is used in kunafa, you know the answer!
How to Eat Kunafa:
Kunafa or Konafa is usually drenched in sugar syrup and topped with sliced/ powdered pistachio. It is served as a dessert in the authentically in aluminum round pans.
What you may have normally seen as a coffee pot for Moroccan tea, can also be used for pouring sugar syrup over the kunafa dessert. I have found a coffee pot with a great deal on Amazon for you! Or, you can just use a pitcher like me.
This kunafa recipe with cheese is the easiest way to satisfy your cravings and is an affordable alternative. Just keep in mind to heat your slice and eat when warm as that’s when it tastes the best.
So, the real question now is to go with the sugar syrup or not? I leave that up toyou 🙂
Until then, happy eating! xx
P.S. If you want to save and read later, here’s a pinnable version! 🙂
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Buying the product will result in a small commission to me at no extra added cost to you :)
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FAQs
Kunafa is made from Kataifi which is shredded phyllo dough. This shredded dough is spread onto a pan and stuffed with either cheese or ashta (thickened cream), baked, then drizzled with simple syrup and garnished with pistachios. It's a crunchy, sweet, cheesy, creamy dessert.
What can I use instead of akawi cheese? ›
If you cannot find akawi cheese, you can use another white cheese such as queso blanco or quest fresco. Both substitutes are mild in taste so, you would need to add to salt or use a natural saltier option like feta or halloumi.
What are the two types of kunafa? ›
There are two different types of Knafeh: na'ameh and khishneh. It combines the flavours of regional cheeses, pistachios, cream, and a floral syrup into a universally loved dessert. Knafeh is commonly served in countries and regions such as Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.
What is the difference between cream kunafa and cheese kunafa? ›
The dish may be shaped in a variety of ways and the top layer of crust is often tinted with red or orange food die. It is typically garnished with ground or chopped pistachios. A cheese kunafa is usually served warm, whereas a kunafa with cream is served chilled or at room temperature.
What kind of cheese is Arabic cheese? ›
Jibneh Arabieh (Arabic for "Arab cheese") is also referred to as jibneh baida ("white cheese"). It is found throughout the Middle East and is particularly popular in Egypt and Eastern Arabia. It is a fresh cheese with a milky quality, a pronounced saltiness, medium-firmness, and excellent meltability.
Which kunafa flavour is best? ›
Initially, if you want to get your taste buds acquainted, we suggest you go for the Classic cheese Kunafa dessert. The best ingredients and culinary skills are celebrated in this masterpiece. Enjoy layers of tender, golden Kunafa pastry that enfold a sumptuous, ooey-gooey cheese filling.
Is kunafa Arabic or Turkish? ›
Knafeh (Arabic: كنافة) is a traditional Arabic dessert, made with spun pastry called kataifi, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup called attar, and typically layered with cheese, or with other ingredients such as clotted cream, pistachio or nuts, depending on the region.
What's the difference between kunafa and baklava? ›
Baklava and Kunafa are both delicious Middle Eastern desserts that are popular in their own right. While baklava is made with layers of phyllo pastry and chopped nuts, kunafa is made with shredded phyllo dough or semolina pastry and a variety of fillings such as cheese, nuts, or cream.
What is a substitute for Akawi cheese in kunafa? ›
Sweet cheese or Nabulsi / Akkawi is traditionally used to make Knafeh, but unfortunately is hard to find! If you are not able to find it at your local Middle Eastern grocery story, you have the following options available: Queso Fresco Casero or Queso Fresco, which is found at most grocery stores.
What cheese to use for kunafa reddit? ›
Ingredients
- Pheni/ vermicilli 200g.
- Sugar 1cup.
- Water 1cup.
- Ricotta cheese/ Mozzarella cheese.
- pistachios 15-20.
- Ghee/ Butter 2tbsp.
Ackawi (also spelt Akawi, Akkawi or Akawieh) is a Middle Eastern cheese named after Acre (locally known as Akko, Akka), a city in the Northern district of Israel. In Arabic, akkawi means "from Akka". It is a soft, unripened, brine cheese with a chewy, smooth consistency and a very mild, slightly salty flavour.
What is the original kunafa? ›
The sweet dish—made with vermicelli-like dough soaked in sugar syrup, layered with soft cheese, drizzled with rosewater and topped with pistachios—has a lengthy history. It is undisputed that knafeh hails from Nablus, a Palestinian city in modern-day West Bank.
What is knafeh dough made of? ›
Knafeh is a Middle Eastern dessert with a shredded filo dough crust, a sweet cheese filling, topped with a rose water flavored simple syrup. This impressive dessert can be served hot or cold. Knafeh looks more difficult to make than it really is.
Which country is famous for kunafa? ›
It is a traditional dessert in the Levant, and is popular in countries such as Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan. In Turkey, it is called künefe. Different variants of the dish exist in Palestinian, Turkish, Iranian, and Greek cuisine.
What is Lebanese cheese made of? ›
Labneh is a soft Middle Eastern cheese made from strained yogurt. It's surprisingly easy to make, and it's really versatile. Serve it as a dip with good-quality olive oil and za'atar, or add it to salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and more!
Is Nabulsi cheese like mozzarella? ›
Nabulsi is eaten either cold or hot. In the Palestinian dish“knafeh,” you use a modified version of the cheese. The cheese is then more aged and more like mozzarella.
Is Akawi cheese like halloumi? ›
Organoleptic properties of Domiati, Akawi and Halloumi cheeses differed in the score points for flavors, body and texture, saltiness and appearance. Fresh Akawi cheese gained the highest record in flavor and body and texture.
What Arabic cheese is like mozzarella? ›
Halloumi, produced from a mixture of goat's and ship's milk, resembles mozzarella. A high melt point makes it possible to fry or grill halloumi without losing the solid bite. Halloumi is often paired with salads and fruits, particularly watermelon.
