knafeh

Syrupy shredded pastry

Knafeh is a Middle Eastern dessert made from shredded phyllo dough or semolina layered with soft cheese, soaked in sweet syrup, and often topped with crushed pistachios.

The cheese melts into strings when warm, and the exterior turns golden and crispy.

Spellings vary widely—kunafa, kanafeh, knafe—reflecting different regional pronunciations across the Arab world.

dessert

pastry

Buttery baked dough

cheeseFermented milk solid
syrupThick sugar liquid
semolinaGranular durum wheat product

phyllo · rosewater · orange blossom · pistachio · sweet · shredded · crispy · gooey · stretchy · sugar syrup

ingredients

mozzarella

Mild Italian cheese

ricottaSoft Italian whey cheese
semolinaGranular durum wheat product
phylloUltra-thin pastry dough

ghee · butter · sugar · water · rosewater · orange blossom water · pistachios · walnuts · food coloring · cream

cultural

Palestinian

From territories near Israel

LevantineOf the eastern Mediterranean
ArabSemitic ethnic group member
Middle EasternFrom Western Asia's cultural region

Ramadan · iftar · celebration · feast · traditional · heritage · street food · vendor · hospitality · family

preparation

dough

Flour-liquid mixture for baking

shreddedTorn into strips
butterSolid fat from cream
gheeButter with milk removed

clarified · soaked · baked · circular · tray · inverted · orange · food coloring · pressed · layered

knafeh

pastry

mozzarella

Palestinian

dough

knafeh

Opposites

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