Saturday, September 19, 2009

Getting for Eid with Desert: Knefe



This is a very easy desert to make. I found it online once, but I do not recall or else I would credit the poster.

You will need the following ingredients

1 pkg of shredded phyllo (16 oz) or 16 oz of regular phyllo if you cannot find shredded
1 container of ricotta cheese (15 oz), whole milk
1 egg
1 1/2 stick of sweet butter, melted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
To make the syrup, you will need:
1 cups water
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons orange blossom water
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Directions
Shred phyllo into large mixing bowl.

Add in butter to keep phyllo from sticking. Divide phyllo into two.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine ricotta, egg, sugar and lemon juice. Mix well. Set aside.

Grease a 9x12 baking dish and place a layer of phyllo dough on the bottom.

Add your ricotta mixture on top of the dough. Add remaining phyllo and sprinkle with butter.

Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow cooling for about 45 minutes.

While the knefe is cooking you can make your simple syrup if you have not done so already. To make simple syrup, combine water and sugar in a pot and allow simmering over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Allow to boil for 1 minute, and then reduce heat to low and add orange blossom water. Allow syrup to cool completely.

Once knefe has cooled, flip the dish over and release it from the pan. Be sure to go around the edges with a butter knife to make it easier. Also, make sure the knefe is completely cooled! Drizzle with simple syrup and serve immediately. You can garnish your knefe with ground pistachios, walnuts, or even pine nuts.

The Quran Says:

"And thus preach joy to My servants.Those who listen to the word and follow the best of it. Those are the ones whom Allah has guided and they are the wise people." (39:17-18)