Pistachio Knefe Bites
This middle eastern dessert is an ooey gooey sinfully delicious treat that is dangerously addictive! Layers of rich shredded phyllo dough are stuffed with delicately scented pistachios then baked until golden and soaked in an uplifting aromatic syrup; the outcome is heavenly, but if on a diet, please stay away!
Pistachio Knefe Bites
Yield: 4
Ingredients
For the knefe
- 1 pound kataifi (shredded phyllo dough)
- 3/4 cup melted clarified butter
- 2 cups chopped raw pistachios
For the syrup
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp orange blossom water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 C).
- Prepare the syrup: Place the sugar, water and lemon juice in a saucepan. Stir on medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil then simmer for 7 minutes. Add the orange blossom water and simmer for 1 minute.
- Heavily grease a 16-inch oven safe pan with butter.
- Place the kataifi in a bowl and finely separate the strands with your fingers.
- Press half the shredded kataifi against the bottom of the greased pan into an even layer .
- Drizzle half the melted butter over the dough layer.
- Spread the pistachios over a cookie sheet and roast in the heated oven for around 5 minutes until fragrant.
- Transfer the pistachios to a bowl and mix with 1/2 cup of the sugar syrup.
- Spread the pistachio mixture over the kataifi in the pan pressing firmly so the nuts are inserted in the dough.
- Top with the remaining layer of shredded dough and drizzle the remaining melted butter all over.
- Cover the knefe with a plastic wrap and place a heavy smaller size tray over it.
- Place in the fridge for 3 hours or up to overnight.
- Bake the knefe in an oven heated to the max for around 20 minutes or until it’s golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and while warm pour the remaining syrup all over and let absorb.
- Let cool then cut into small squares or triangles. Serve and enjoy!
