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Authentic Knafeh Nabulsieh (Crispy Kataifi Pastry with Stretchy Sweet Cheese and Orange Blossom)

Name: Authentic Knafeh Nabulsieh (Crispy Kataifi Pastry with Stretchy Sweet Cheese and Orange Blossom)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: middle_eastern
Ingredients: 350 g Shredded kataifi phyllo pastry, finely chopped; 140 g Clarified butter (ghee or samneh), melted; 350 g Sweet Akkawi cheese (desalted in cold water 24h), shredded; 150 g Low-moisture fresh mozzarella, shredded; 250 g Granulated white sugar for attar syrup; 150 ml Water for syrup; 1 tsp Fresh lemon juice; 1 tbsp Orange blossom water (mazaher); 50 g Finely crushed raw pistachios

The iconic dessert queen of Nablus: shredded kataifi phyllo crisped golden in clarified ghee, layered over stretchy sweet akkawi cheese, soaked in orange blossom attar syrup, and showered with bright pistachios.

Prep

25 min

Cook

25 min

Total

50 min

Oven

200°C (180°C vent.)

Ingredients

servings

Shredded kataifi phyllo pastry, finely chopped
350 g
Clarified butter (ghee or samneh), melted
140 g
Sweet Akkawi cheese (desalted in cold water 24h), shredded
350 g
Low-moisture fresh mozzarella, shredded
150 g
Granulated white sugar for attar syrup
250 g
Water for syrup
150 ml
Fresh lemon juice
1 tsp
Orange blossom water (mazaher)
1 tbsp
Finely crushed raw pistachios
50 g

Preparation Steps

Boil sugar, water, and lemon juice for 6-7 mins into a light syrup; off heat, stir in orange blossom water and cool to room temp.

7 min timer

Toss chopped kataifi with 100g melted ghee until saturated. Grease pan with remaining ghee; press 3/4 of pastry firmly into bottom. Scatter drained shredded cheeses on top, leaving 1cm rim; cover lightly with remaining pastry.

10 min timer

Bake at 200°C for 20-25 mins until pastry base is deep golden and crisp. Invert immediately onto a large platter, drench with warm attar syrup, and lavish with ground pistachios. Serve hot while cheese stretches.

25 min timer

Cooking Journal

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Nutrition Facts

per serving

Calories

490

Protein

16g

Carbohydrates

48g

Fat

26g

Allergens

GlutenMilkNuts

*estimated values per serving

Provenance & Public Domain Audit

Source: Middle Eastern & North African Culinary Heritage / USDA Public Domain Collection (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) & Levantine Gastronomic Archive)

Legal status: Public Domain (17 U.S.C. § 105) • 17 U.S.C. § 105

License: Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal

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Authentic Knafeh Nabulsieh (Crispy Kataifi Pastry with Stretchy Sweet Cheese and Orange Blossom)

Ingredients

Preparation Steps

Cooking Journal

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