I love to make this with my family! it is just so fun!

A not-so-authenic cheese kunafa made with everyone’s favorite nabulsi cheese!  Crunchy shredded pastry filled with an ooey gooey mixture of mozzarella and a secret ingredient that keeps the cheese from hardening even after it cools.  A rose blossom water scented sugar syrup, sweetens and perfumes this scrumptious Middle Eastern favorite. 

To recap, kunafa (or konafa, kanafeh, knafeh) is a Middle-Eastern/ Mediterranean pastry made from shredded, vermicelli-like phyllo dough that crisps up into this beautifully golden dessert when baked. It almost always, comes with a surprise filling and sweetened with simple syrup.

Pastry shops and home cooks have been getting really creative with kunafa innovations lately. And so have I πŸ™‚

I hop[e you enjoy this easy recipe that tastes amazing really, it is one of the best desserts in the world!!


Kunafa

Numnum
A favorite cheesy dessert! Everyone’s Favorite Mediterranean food!
5 from 7 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4
Calories

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Kunafa strands
  • 50 grams butter (3 tablespoons)
  • 1/4 cups shelled, unsalted pistachios
  • 1 grain mistaka Β (Ω…Ψ³ΨͺΩƒΨ©) or 1 ball
  • 2 cups grated cheese mixture (mixtureΒ of mozzarella, Nabulsia or AkkawiΒ cheese)

For The syrup:

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tsp rose water or flower water
  • 1/2 tbsp lemon juice for thickening

Instructions
 

  • grate Cheese
  • pound your mistaka until it is powdered (or grainy/ sandy)
  • combine the cheese with your Mistaka
  • On Medium Heat, in a large pan: melt the butter
  • On top of the butter add the kunafa strands so that the butter is combined with the strands
  • then evenly distribute the buttered Kunafa strands across the pan
  • add the sweet Mistaka Cheese
  • turn heat to a low simmer and cover your pan every while turning the kunafa so it does not burn

To Make syrup

  • combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan

Continue the kunafa pastry

  • once the cheese is melted turn of heat
  • Flip the Pastry onto a large plate the Kunafa Strands are facing upwards
  • add the syrup (or until your desired sweetness)
  • add some pistachios as decorationserve warm

serve warm

    Keyword cheese, dessert, kunafa, specialty dessert, strands
    About Author

    Numnum

    Hello there!
    I am Numnum, a baker, blogger and a well known lover of sweets!
    I post recipes on my blog 1-2 times per week! You can visit my food blog at bakeeatsmilerepeat.com

    11 Comments

    1. Nimeh says:

      5 stars
      We tried this and it is really delicious! Thanks NumNum

      1. Your welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

    2. Yasmine says:

      5 stars
      Good Job Numnum <3

      1. Thank you! Glad to see that your enjoying our redesign!

    3. Ghada hindawi says:

      5 stars
      Good job numnumπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ‘πŸΌπŸ˜˜πŸŒΉπŸ™πŸ½πŸ™πŸ½πŸ™πŸ½

      1. Thank You! Glad to see your enjoying recipes:)

    4. Seedo Zuhair says:

      5 stars
      Great recipes, good job Numnum
      Seedo Zuhair

      1. Thank you so much seedo πŸ™‚

    5. Asd says:

      5 stars
      Beautiful

    6. Saeed says:

      5 stars
      Looks delicious. Will try it soon. Thanks for sharing

      1. 5 stars
        Thanks, Can’t wait to see what you make

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