Knafeh (Syrup-soaked Cheese Pastry)

Name: Knafeh (Syrup-soaked Cheese Pastry)
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 10-20
Ingredients: 1 cup sugar; 2 tsp. lemon juice; 1 tsp. red food coloring, optional; 1 ⁄ 2 cup whole milk; 3 tbsp. semolina; 1 lb. whole-milk ricotta; 1 lb. kataif (shredded phyllo dough), crumbled; 2 cups unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing; 1 ⁄ 4 cup minced pistachios

Serves
serves 10-20

EILON PAZ

In this recipe, kataif, a bird's nest-like phyllo dough, is layered with fresh cheese and doused in amber-hued syrup. This recipe first appeared in our May 2013 issue with Gabriella Gershenson's article The Promised Land.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. red food coloring, optional
¹⁄₂ cup whole milk
3 tbsp. semolina
1 lb. whole-milk ricotta
1 lb. kataif (shredded phyllo dough), crumbled
2 cups unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing
¹⁄₄ cup minced pistachios

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Instructions

Step 1

Boil sugar and 1⁄2 cup water in a 2-qt. saucepan; cook, stirring until sugar is dissolved, 1-2 minutes. Stir in juice and food coloring; set syrup aside. Boil milk and semolina in a 1-qt. saucepan; cook, whisking, until slightly thickened, 1-2 minutes. Whisk in ricotta; set mixture aside.

Step 2

Heat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" baking dish. Toss kataif and butter in a bowl until butter is absorbed; press half into the bottom of the dish. Spread ricotta mixture evenly over kataif; top with remaining kataif. Press layers firmly together. Bake until crisp and golden, 1-1 1⁄2 hours. Let cool to room temperature. Transfer cake to a serving platter. Spoon syrup over the top and sprinkle with pistachios.