Custard Kunafa Cups

 

          These rich, creamy and yummy Custard Kunafa Cups are just irresistible. Very easy and quick to dish out, they are a perfect Eid, Diwali or a party dessert that people will fall in love with. It is a twist to the traditional Middle Eastern dessert, prepared with custard of any flavor, vermicelli and crushed pistachios. These three main ingredients forms the basis of this amazing dessert. 

          As Kunafa dough was unavailable, I went in for roasted vermicelli. I also added some soaked chia seeds to the prepared custard. However, it is purely optional. So check out for a quick step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this fusion treat. 

• 1 cup roasted thin vermicelli, crushed
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. powdered sugar
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 2 cups full cream milk
• 2 tbsp. custard powder (any flavor)
• 2-3 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. soaked chia seeds
• 2 tbsp. crushed pistachios
• few dry rose petals

          Heat butter in a pan and sauté the crushed vermicelli for a minute. 

          Add the sugar and cardamom powder and mix well. Sprinkle some water and cook, covered for 1-2 minutes till the vermicelli turns slightly soft. Keep aside to cool.

          In a small bowl, mix together the custard powder with some milk into a smooth paste.

          Meanwhile, bring the remaining milk and sugar to a boil. Add the custard paste and keep stirring continuously till it thickens. Keep aside to cool down. Then add the soaked chia seeds and mix well. 

          To assemble, add some of the cooked vermicelli at the bottom of a cup. Then spoon a generous amount of the custard, followed by more of the vermicelli.

          Garnish with the crushed pistachios and rose petals. Chill to serve. Enjoy as an after meal dessert or as as when desired.

          Heat butter in a pan & sauté the crushed vermicelli for a minute. 

                    Add the sugar and

cardamom powder & mix well. Sprinkle some water & cook, covered, for 1-2 minutes till the vermicelli turns slightly soft. Keep aside to cool.

In a small bowl, mix together the custard powder with some milk into a smooth paste. Meanwhile, bring the remaining milk & sugar to a boil. Add the custard paste & keep stirring continuously till it thickens. Keep aside to cool down. Then add the soaked chia seeds and mix well. 

       To assemble, add some of the cooked vermicelli at the bottom of a cup.

                    Then spoon a generous amount of the custard,

 

                    followed by more of the vermicelli.

                    Garnish with the crushed pistachios

                     and rose petals. Chill to serve. 

              Enjoy as an after meal dessert or as as when desired.

Maamoul with Date Filling (Middle Eastern Cookies / Pastries)

          Maamoul is a traditional Middle Eastern style cookies / pastries stuffed with  dates and dry fruits. They are also filled with ground pistachios. It is made of semolina, all purpose flour, melted butter and oil. Cardamom powder and rose water are used for some flavor. They are shaped in particular wooden molds. However, silicone ones can also be used. 

          In case of non-availability of molds, you can make any design with a fork. These Maamouls are particularly very popular during Eid, Easter festivals or as a tea time snack. They are also perfect as gifts for your loved ones. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare these yummy melt in the mouth cookies. 

Dough - 

• 1 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp. oil 
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. corn flour
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar 
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp. rose water
• warm milk, as required, to knead

Filling - 

• 100 gms. soft dates, pitted & chopped
• 2 tbsp. almonds & pistachios, powdered
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1/2 tsp. rose water

          In a mixing bowl, take the semolina, melted butter and oil. Mix well and cover it with a cling film. Refrigerate overnight.

          Then fluff it up with a fork. Add the all purpose four, corn flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, rose water and cardamom powder. Give it a nice mix.

          Add milk, little at a time and knead into a soft dough. Cover and refrigerate for an hour.

          Meanwhile, process the dates and transfer to a plate or bowl. 

          Add the powdered pistachios and almonds, cardamom powder and rose water. Mix well and make small balls out of them.

          Make equal size balls of the semolina dough (double the size of the date balls).

          Meanwhile, line a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven at 200 degrees C. for 10 minutes. 

          Take a flour dough ball and make an incision in the centre. Then place a date ball in it and cover all edges. Roll into a ball. Make similar balls out of the remaining dough.

          Take each stuffed ball and press it into a Maamoul mold. Gently remove them. 

          Then arrange them on the baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake at 200 degrees C. for 20-25 minutes or till they turn slightly brown on the surface

         When done, cool them on a rack and then store in an air-tight container. Enjoy as a tea time snack or gift them on festive occasions like Eid or Easter.

Note - 

In case of non-availability of molds, you can go ahead and make any design with a fork. 

In a mixing bowl, take the semolina, melted butter & oil. Mix well & cover it with a cling film. 

                    Refrigerate overnight. Then fluff it up with a fork.

Add the all purpose four, corn flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, rose water & cardamom powder. Give it a nice mix.

Add milk, little at a time & knead into a soft dough. Cover & refrigerate for an hour.

               Meanwhile, process the dates and transfer to a plate or bowl. 

Add the powdered pistachios & almonds, cardamom powder & rose water.

                  Mix well & make small balls out of them.

Make equal size balls of the semolina dough (double the size of the date balls).

Take a flour dough ball & make an incision in the centre. Then place a date ball in it and cover all edges. Roll into a ball. Make similar balls out of the remaining dough.

 Take each stuffed ball & press it into a Maamoul mold. Gently remove them. 

               Arrange them on the baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees C. for 20-25 minutes or till they turn slightly brown on the surface. Cool them on a rack & then store in an air-tight container.

Enjoy as a tea time snack or gift them on festive occasions like Eid or Easter.

Batheeth / Batheetha (Emirati Dessert)

 

          Batheeth / Batheetha is a traditional Emirati Dessert of UAE. It is totally sugar free and is prepared out of pureed dates, dry roasted whole wheat flour, butter, cardamom powder and saffron infused rose water. Dry ginger powder may be added if preferred. 

        

            It is a very easy and a healthy dessert that can be dished out in a jiffy. They can be enjoyed as cookies, crumbs or in the form of balls, coated with crushed pistachios, sesame seeds, etc. it is usually served with Gahwa or Arabic Coffee. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this classic dessert. 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 18-20 dates, soaked for an hour, pitted & pureed
• 2 tbsp. butter 
• 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
• a pinch of saffron soaked in 2 tbsp. rose water
• 1/4 cup each of crushed pistachios, toasted sesame seeds, fresh grated coconut & crushed dry rose petals 

          In a pan, dry roast the whole wheat flour on a low flame till you get a nice aroma. Switch off the flame and add the pureed dates, saffron-rose water, cardamom powder and butter.

          Combine everything well and knead it into a dough. Make small round balls of equal size and coat with the crushed pistachios, toasted sesame seeds, fresh grated coconut & crushed dry rose petals. Voila, your Emirati dessert is ready to be enjoyed. 

 

                                 18-20 dates, soaked for an hour, pitted & pureed

                       Dry roast the flour till you get a nice aroma. Then switch off the flame. 

                        Add the pureed dates, saffron-rose water, cardamom powder & butter.

                                  Combine everything well and knead it into a dough. 

                                 Form small round balls of equal size.

                    Coat with the crushed pistachios, toasted sesame seeds, grated coconut &

                    crushed dry rose petals. 

Voila, your Emirati dessert is ready to be enjoyed. 

Umm Ali (Egyptian Dessert)

 
          This is a traditional Egyptian dessert that is very popular in all Middle Eastern countries, especially during Ramadan. It is made of puff pastry / croissant and is almost similar to bread pudding, but without any eggs. It is very simple to prepare where all you need is to pour thickened milk over some shredded croissant, followed by some cream, coconut and chopped nuts. It is then baked till done. 

          Can be enjoyed hot or cold. I prefer the latter one. So here is my version where I added some khoya and flavoured it with cardamom powder and some rose water instead of the usual vanilla essence that is used. So check out a quick step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 2 sweet croissant
• 1 & 1/2 - 2 cups evaporated milk / thickened milk
• 2-3 tbsp. khoya (opt)
• 3 tbsp. sugar (powdered) or as required
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1/4 cup fresh grated coconut
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 tbsp. rose water
• 2 tbsp. each of chopped pistachios, almonds, raisins & pomegranate pearls

         Mix together the cream and 1 tbsp. sugar. Keep aside. Shred the croissant into medium size pieces. 

         In a pan heat the milk, 2 tbsp. sugar, butter, cardamom powder and rose water.

          Arrange the shredded croissants and the khoya in a baking dish.

          Pour the milk mixture on top of the croissant, followed by the coconut and then the cream.

          Sprinkle the nuts and raisins and bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 180 degrees C. or till the surface turns slightly brown. 

          Bring it to a room temperature and refrigerate for some time. Garnish with the pomegranate pearls and enjoy chilled. 

                        Arrange shredded croissants & khoya in a baking dish.

                        Pour milk mixture on top of the croissant, 

                       followed by the cream & coconut.

                       Sprinkle nuts and raisins.

                      Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 180 degrees C. or till the 
                      surface turns slightly brown. 

                      Bring to room temperature & refrigerate for some time. 

                               Garnish with pomegranate pearls & enjoy chilled.