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Golden knafeh cheese pastry with orange syrup and pistachios

Crispy shredded pastry with stretchy cheese and syrup

Knafeh

Knafeh

55 minMedium

Prep Time

20 min

Cook Time

35 min

Total Time

55 min

Servings

8

1 round pan (10-inch)

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Moderate

$$

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Knafeh

Crispy shredded pastry with stretchy cheese and syrup

A spectacular Middle Eastern dessert of crispy, golden shredded pastry hiding a layer of hot, stretchy cheese, all drenched in fragrant orange blossom syrup. Irresistible.

20m

Prep Time

35m

Cook Time

55m

Total Time

8

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Moderate $$

Cost

Mediterranean CuisineDessertVegetarian
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

May 17, 2023(Updated April 13, 2026)

Knafeh is the rock star of Middle Eastern desserts—crunchy kadaifi pastry, molten stretchy cheese, and a shower of sweet syrup create a combination of textures and flavors that's utterly addictive.

Why This Recipe Works

Soaking the shredded pastry in butter ensures it crisps evenly into a golden shell. Using the right cheese (akkawi or mozzarella) provides the signature stretchy pull.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb kadaifi (shredded phyllo) pastry
  • 2 cups akkawi cheese or low-moisture mozzarella, shredded
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water (for syrup)
  • 1 tbsp orange blossom water
  • Crushed pistachios for garnish

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make syrup: boil sugar and water for 5 minutes, add orange blossom water, and cool completely.

  2. 2

    Pull apart kadaifi pastry and toss with melted butter until evenly coated.

  3. 3

    Press half the pastry into a buttered 10-inch round pan. Add cheese in an even layer. Top with remaining pastry, pressing firmly.

  4. 4

    Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes until the top is deeply golden and crispy.

  5. 5

    Immediately flip onto a plate (crispy side up), pour cold syrup over the hot knafeh, and garnish with crushed pistachios. Serve warm.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping

  • Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil

  • Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette

  • Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream

Substitutions

Kadaifi pastryShredded phyllo dough

Same product, different names

Akkawi cheeseLow-moisture mozzarella

Best widely available substitute for the stretch

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Olive Oil

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the olive oil matters

On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.

This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.

  • Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
  • Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure

A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

Shop olive oil for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • The syrup must be cold and the knafeh hot for proper absorption without sogginess.

  • Soak akkawi cheese in water for several hours, changing water twice, to remove excess salt.

Storage

Best eaten warm and fresh. Refrigerate for 2 days.

Reheating

Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to re-melt the cheese.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (40mg) · 8 servings

Calories380
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein10g
Carbohydrates16g
Fat52g
Fiber320mg
Sugar1g
Sodium28g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kadaifi pastry?
Thin shredded phyllo dough that looks like vermicelli. Find it frozen at Middle Eastern stores.
Can I use ricotta?
It melts differently. Mozzarella gives the closest stretchy texture to traditional akkawi.

Explore More

More Mediterranean RecipesMore DessertVegetarian RecipesOven RecipesBaking Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

View all recipes →

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