Künefe

Künefe

Künefe

Veg

Shredded wheat pastry encasing soft, stretchy cheese baked in a copper pan, drenched in sugar syrup and scattered with crushed pistachios — served piping hot.

Cuisines

Turkish

Best for

Breakfast Snacks Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Total: 35 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

150 g kadayif (shredded phyllo dough)
75 g unsalted butter
100 g mozzarella cheese
100 g unsalted cheese (like Hatay cheese or fresh mozzarella)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon juice
crushed pistachios for garnish

Instructions

  1. 1 Start by preparing the syrup: combine sugar, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan.
  2. 2 Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside to cool.
  3. 3 Melt the butter in a small pan.
  4. 4 Place the kadayif in a large bowl and pour the melted butter over it. Mix well to ensure all the strands are coated.
  5. 5 Divide the kadayif into two equal portions.
  6. 6 Spread one portion of the kadayif evenly in a small, non-stick pan.
  7. 7 Distribute the cheese evenly over the kadayif layer.
  8. 8 Cover the cheese with the remaining kadayif, pressing down gently.
  9. 9 Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
  10. 10 Carefully flip the künefe using a plate and cook the other side for another 10 minutes until golden brown.
  11. 11 Once cooked, pour the cooled syrup evenly over the hot künefe.
  12. 12 Let it rest for a few minutes to absorb the syrup.
  13. 13 Garnish with crushed pistachios before serving.

Tips

For a richer flavor, you can add a bit of rose water or orange blossom water to the syrup.