Konafa (sweet pastry)
Buttery shredded kataifi pastry filled with coconut, nuts and peel, soaked in rose syrup. Makes 20 pieces
Konafa (kunafa) is a celebration sweet of shredded kataifi pastry tossed in butter and baked in two layers around a filling of coconut, almonds, pistachios and mixed peel with glacé cherries. The hot pastry is drenched in cold rose-water syrup and pressed so it holds together, then cut into squares. Crisp, syrupy and nutty; serve cold with fresh cream or ice cream.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
For the syrup
For the filling
Method
0/10 doneStep 1: Mix 10 ½ oz sugar, 1 ½ cups water, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp rose water in a pan and boil to one-thread consistency (see the sugar syrup recipe), about 6 minutes. Leave to cool completely.
6 minStep 2: Heat the oven to 300°F. Put 13 oz kataifi shredded pastry in a bowl and gently ease the strands apart.
Step 3: Pour ¾ of the 5 oz butter over the pastry and mix well, until all the strands are coated. Grease a 30 × 45 cm shallow ovenproof dish with melted butter.
Step 4: Divide the pastry into two equal parts. Spread one part over the base of the dish.
Step 5: Mix 1 cup dried shredded coconut, 1 cup almonds, ½ cup pistachios, ¾ cup mixed peel and glacé cherries, 4 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp orange juice for the filling.
Step 6: Sprinkle the filling evenly over the pastry and press down firmly.
Step 7: Top with the remaining pastry and press firmly. Spoon the rest of the 1 ⅝ oz butter evenly over the top.
Step 8: Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
30 minStep 9: Pour the cold syrup evenly over the hot pastry.
Step 10: Cover with foil and place a heavy weight on top to compact the sweet. Leave until cold, then cut into 5 cm squares. Serve cold with fresh cream or ice cream.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 39 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does konafa (sweet pastry) take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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