Ktayef

Ktayef

Ktayef is a delicious traditional Middle Eastern dessert. It's an indulgent pastry made with thin strands of vermicelli dough, filled with sweetened cheese or cream, and then fried until crispy. Once it's golden and crispy, it's usually drizzled with a luscious sugar syrup and sometimes sprinkled with crushed pistachios for an extra touch of flavor and crunch.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 51 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Algerian
Calories: 735

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package Ktayef dough (or vermicelli dough)
  • 200 grams Akkawi cheese (approx 1/2 lb) or any other unsalted white cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Ghee or vegetable oil for frying
  • Crushed pistachios for garnish (optional)

Method
 

  1. Start by preparing the sugar syrup. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once boiled, reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes until it thickens slightly. Set the syrup aside to cool.
  2. Now, let's assemble the Ktayef. Take a small portion of the dough and place it in the palm of your hand. Flatten it slightly and put a spoonful of shredded cheese in the center. Fold the dough over the cheese to create a small pouch and seal it by pressing the edges together. Repeat this process until you've used all the dough and cheese.
  3. Heat some ghee or vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place the filled Ktayef pouches in the pan, seam side down, and fry them until they turn golden brown and crispy on both sides. This usually takes around 2-3 minutes per side.
  4. Once the Ktayef is cooked, remove them from the pan and let them drain on a paper towel to remove any excess oil.
  5. To serve, pour the prepared sugar syrup over the fried Ktayef, allowing them to soak up the syrup for a few minutes. If desired, sprinkle some crushed pistachios on top for added flavor and decoration.

Nutrition

Calories: 735kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 16gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 483mgPotassium: 81mgFiber: 1gSugar: 51gVitamin A: 502IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 362mgIron: 2mg

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