Desserts & Baking

Knafeh

8
Medium
1 hour, plus overnight chilling time
1.5 hours

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.

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Ingredients

Method
    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

Method

Ingredients

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

Teddy Zaki

Recipe by: Teddy Zaki

Teddy Zaki is the creator of Just Teddy – Fine Boulangerie & Pâtisserie at Hyde Park Corner, known for its luxe blend of French and Middle Eastern cuisine. The chef and pâtissier is the author of Just Teddy – Petals from Paris and was also a finalist on The Great South African Bake Off. Follow him on Instagram @just___teddy.

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