Knafeh

Woolworths is committed to sustainability via our good business journey. Seasonal (and other) products might not always be in stock.

Knafeh is a Middle Eastern cheese dessert. This version is by Teddy Zaki, The Great South African Bake Off finalist and creator of Just Teddy – Fine Boulangerie & Pâtisserie at Hyde Park Corner.

Ingredients

For the rose syrup:
600 g white sugar
1 T lemon juice
1½ cups water
1 T rose water
For the knafeh
450 g unsalted butter, melted
500 g kataifi pastry, pulled apart and shredded
120 g mozzarella, grated
125 g ricotta
100 g feta, crumbled
2 T caster sugar
1 lemon, zested
½ t sea salt
1 t rose water
1 t orange blossom water
slivered pistachios, for sprinkling
dried rose petals, to decorate
gold leaf, to decorate

Cooking Instructions

1. To make the rose syrup, bring the sugar, lemon juice and water to a boil over a medium heat, stirring to ensure the sugar dissolves completely. Boil for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and add the rose water. Cool, then chill overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 160°C and liberally grease a 20 x 30 cm rectangular baking dish.

3. Add the melted butter to the kataifi pastry and mix until thoroughly coated. Divide the mixture in half, and press one half into the baking dish.

4. In a bowl, combine all the other ingredients to form a paste. Layer the filling on top of the kataifi in the baking dish, then cover with the remaining pastry. Chill for 1 hour.

5. Bake the knafeh in the oven until golden, about 1 hour. As it comes out of the oven, pour over the syrup, reserving some for serving. Serve warm or at room temperature, sprinkled with slivered pistachios, rose petals and gold leaf.

Find more sweet treat recipes here.

Photographs: Elsa Young
Production: Abigail Donnelly