Künefe Recipe /Turkish sweet cheese kadayif pastry (Kunafa / kanafeh) (2024)

Merhaba From Türkiye👋


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Künefe or kanafeh or kunafeh or kunafah or ... I don't know any other names of it.. But basically, it's a sweet pastry made from wiry kadaif filled/ layered with unsalty soft cheese and soaked in sugar syrup. Served hot or at room temperature.
Künefe is popular in Turkey and in some Mediterranean countries (as aformer Ottoman Empire).


In Turkey, some cities (like Hatay, Adana, Mersin, Sanliurfa, Mardin) had claimed where thisKünefe originated from. But according to sourcesKünefe originally from Arabian.The soldiers of the Ottoman Empire which were sent on the road to the establishment of the Republic have gone to Yemen.Some of the troops here had made some "sweets/ dessert" and then later when they (ottoman soldiers) have returned to their home they started to learn making this dessert. Künefe came to Mersin the end of the year 1930, and to Hatay at 1940s.


I ate this sweet pastry the first time a few years ago when I got to Turkey for 1st time ( I think it was around 2008). And my first impression was this dessert was away too sweet for me.. any Turkish dessert was too sweet for me as they mostly soaked in thick sugar syrup.
But after a few years of living here slowly, my taste has adapted, but still, I eat some sweets in moderation.

This popular and everybody's favorite dessert is surprisingly easy to make. Here I use a plate specially for makingKünefe. It has about 15 cm in diameter with deep-set in the middle part (around 12 mm depth). But feel free to use baking tray or pan.

The recipe I saw from one of TV program I saw, and.. there wasn't an exact amount of ingredients used. You need to know that this künefe has a thin layer with a cheese layer in between. Press the kadaif pretty hard to make it solid and flat.


yeaah... for me who living in Turkey, it's very easy for me to get this dessert around the corner, but again, since I'm living here -which is easy to access to all ingredients - I want to experience (not mastered though) how to make this famous dessert for my family.
So for you who wants to experience Turkish dessert for your family... here recipe I use:

Serve 3~4 plate diameter 15cm

Ingredients:

For thick sugar syrup (make ahead):

  • 650~700 gr sugar
  • 400 ml water
  • 1 tsp corn syrup (optional)
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced, and zest.

⇒Mix all ingredients and heat until rolling boil. Chill to room temperature until ready to use.


I use unsalted string cheese

For kadayif pastry:

  • About 350 gr stale wiry kadayif*
  • about 400 gr good quality butter, soften at room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp molasses ( I use grape molasses)
  • "künefe soft cheese" unsalted (here mostly people useHatay cheeseor string cheese)
  • Pistachio and clotted cream (turk; kaymak) for serving.

(*) I use fresh kadayif then keep at room temperature and unwrap so it gets dry a bit.


Kadayıf string

How to make:
1. Roughly chopped kadayif into smaller part


2. Mix soften butter with grape molasses. Take yourkünefeplate (or use baking tray or cast ironpan), generously rub with butter.


3. Scatter chopped kadayif over butter. I didn't measure exactly how many grams (around 50 gr each layer). Then press firmly with your palms or something flat and heavy so you will get firm and solid layer.


4. Layer the cheese evenly over kadayıf.


5) Again cover with kadayif and press firmly.


6) Heat over a low flame while pressing the surface with something flat. Cook until brown, you can see the edge become brown andkünefecan easily separate from plate.


7. Now this is a little bit tricky step.... How to turn over yourkünefe. Take one flat plate, put face down overkünefe plater then with fast movement flip over those plates... taddaaa...


8. Generously rub againkünefe plater with butter before slip over yourkünefe.

9. Cook other side over low heat evenly until golden brown. Once off from stove, generously flushkünefe with sugar syrup.

Serve warm or room temperature. Sprinkle with chopped/ powdered pistachio and dollop of clotted cheese (kaymak).
I skip kaymak because I think I already gain some big calories with this dessert (^,^)

Warning:

  • This food is highly recommended while you visit Turkey, especially to these area: Hatay, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep, Mardin, Adana, Mersin and around that area (^,^)
  • Do not think about your diet program while enjoy this.
  • Note and bookmark this recipe cause it's addictive dessert, you might want it again and again (^,^)


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Künefe Recipe /Turkish sweet cheese kadayif pastry (Kunafa / kanafeh) (2024)

FAQs

What is Turkish kunefe made of? ›

Künefe is a crispy cheese-filled dessert made with kadayıf (kah-dah-YUF'), which is a traditional shredded wheat dessert with pistachio filling. Künefe is served hot out of the oven so the cheese is soft and stringy.

What is the difference between Kunefe and knafeh? ›

While a similar dish, knafeh, is found throughout the Middle East, künefe is distinctly Turkish, believed to have originated in Hatay and made specifically with the province's namesake cheese, which is similar to fresh mozzarella.

What is knafeh dough made of? ›

There are two popular types of Knafeh: Na'ameh, which is made with ground semolina dough called farkeh, and Khishneh, which is made with shredded phyllo dough called kataifi.

Is kataifi the same as Kunafa? ›

Kunafa/Kanafeh, in my opinion, is the Middle East's version of gulab jamun (loved by all and such a gorgeous presentation). It consists of a top and bottom layer of buttery and crispy shredded phyllo dough (called Kataifi), with a cream or cheese filling.

Is knafeh Arabic or Turkish? ›

In Arabic, the name may refer to the string pastry itself, or to the entire dessert dish. In Turkish, the string pastry is known as tel kadayıf, and the cheese-based dessert that uses it as künefe. In Turkey, it is called künefe.

Which country is kunafa originally from? ›

How unhealthy is knafeh? ›

Like many other desserts, Knafeh isn't considered a healthy food due to its high sugar, fat, and calorie content. Made with pastry and drenched in a sweet sugary syrup. If you've ever had knafeh you'll know how heavy it is even after taking a couple of bites.

What is knafeh in English? ›

Meaning of knafeh in English

a sweet food consisting of layers of pastry and soft cheese in a thick liquid made from sugar, originally eaten in the Middle East: Mike first introduced me to knafeh when we were on our honeymoon in Amman.

What does knafeh mean in Arabic? ›

The #Arabic verb “𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘧” translates to “to. protect/shelter”. This refers to the way this special. Middle Eastern dessert houses its two layers. In other words, this is the #cheesy #dessert that keeps.

What are the two types of knafeh? ›

There are two different types of knafeh. Khishneh is rougher and topped with crunchy bits of kataifi (a pastry from shredded phyllo dough) while na'ameh is smooth and topped with farkeh (ground semolina dough). Regional variations alter the type of cheese or, in some cases, replace it entirely with cream or custard.

Is knafeh like baklava? ›

Baklava and Kunafa are both delicious Middle Eastern desserts that are popular in their own right. While baklava is made with layers of phyllo pastry and chopped nuts, kunafa is made with shredded phyllo dough or semolina pastry and a variety of fillings such as cheese, nuts, or cream.

What are the two types of kunafa? ›

There are two different types of Knafeh: na'ameh and khishneh. It combines the flavours of regional cheeses, pistachios, cream, and a floral syrup into a universally loved dessert. Knafeh is commonly served in countries and regions such as Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey.

What country is kataifi from? ›

Kataifi is a Greek dessert made of kataifi pastry dough. A filling of nuts, sugar and aromatic spices are rolled and baked in a buttered dough. The dough nests are then drizzled with sugar syrup.

Is Kunafa healthy? ›

"We advise people not to consume over a 250 gramme kunafa piece every one or two weeks," she told The Jordan Times Sunday over phone, warning against the “unhealthy” consequences of excess sugar.

Is Kunafa eaten hot? ›

If using the ricotta cheese, kunafa should be served warm or hot. It may be difficult to invert with the ricotta filling so cut and serve from pan.

Is kunefe similar to baklava? ›

Baklava and Kunafa are both delicious Middle Eastern desserts that are popular in their own right. While baklava is made with layers of phyllo pastry and chopped nuts, kunafa is made with shredded phyllo dough or semolina pastry and a variety of fillings such as cheese, nuts, or cream.

Is Kunafa made of semolina? ›

Knafeh Na'ameh is the most famous Palestinian dessert. It is made with shredded phyllo or semolina dough with a cheese filling, then doused with simple syrup and topped with pistachios. Almost every region in the Middle East has its variation of it.

What is the taste of kunefe? ›

It is similar to baklava but with a unique texture. Now, let's talk about the taste. Imagine layers of soft, sweet, and cheesy goodness all wrapped up in a crispy, golden crust. It's like nothing you've ever tasted before, and trust me, you'll be hooked after one bite.

What is Turkish sweet made of? ›

Turkish Delight is made from a sugar syrup and starch milk mixture that is cooked for five to six hours, at which point the flavor is added. The mixture is then poured into large wooden trays to be set and about five hours later they are rolled, cut and dusted with icing.

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