Feast in the MIddle East

One recipe request I have received most often lately, is that for Katayef, also known as Qateyef. These fluffy little pancakes are filled with either nuts or cheese then drizzled with a rose and lemon scented syrup.  If you go to any Arab country during Ramadan, you will see bakeries churning out these pancakes by the hundreds each day– the dessert of choice after a late night Iftar  or Eid feast.   I only wanted to post a video after my mother and I perfected the recipe, and we had a blast taste testing along the way.

 

 

 

As kids my sister and I literally gorged on this dessert until how shall we say– we got really sick? As kids we didn’t really have a reason to stop eating, so I remember sneaking and inhaling at least a half a dozen of these confections during one of my mother’s parties. Let’s just say now as an adult I know better– I can now stop at eating just two. Yay for self control! (though I ain’t gonna lie it’s really hard!)  For this latest video I experimented with one filling that was so rich and creamy I had to harness a willpower of steel.  Can you guess what that filling might be?

 

 

 

 

In any case, feel free to experiment with any kind of  filling you like–from walnuts and pecans to pistachios and chopped cashews. Not a nut fan? Try any kind of fruity jam–and if you don’t have farmer’s cheese, you can also use ricotta or cottage cheese.  This dessert is the Arab answer to Italian cannoli or Eastern European blintzes.  Are you ready to try this treat? Grab the items from your pantry or store from the list below and check out the video!  Be sure to click on the on the box on this page  to the right that says “Sign me up!” to subscribe to my blog. That way you can get my latest recipe videos, for free of course. Also if you haven’t already you can check out my Instagram posts for almost daily recipe ideas.  Let me know what you think–if you tried the video, send photos my way on my Instagram or Facebook page and I will share them with fellow feasters!

 

 

(DIRECTIONS IN VIDEO ABOVE)

Batter ingredients:

1 Tbs Sugar

2 Cups fine Semolina Flour

1 cup all purpose flour.

1 tsp yeast

¼ tsp salt

Lemons

3 cups lukewarm water

½ tsp Baking soda

2 tbs water (to stir with the baking powder)

½ Tbs Orange blossom or rose flower water (optional)

2 tbs melted butter

Walnut Filling:

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup chopped walnuts (or any other nut you like)

Cheese filling:

8 ounces farmer’s cheese soaked overnight in water  (or ricotta cheese)

1 tsp sugar

½ tsp cinnamon