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Golden fried qatayef stuffed pancakes with syrup and pistachios

Stuffed sweet pancakes fried or baked for Ramadan

Qatayef

Qatayef

1hMedium

Prep Time

40 min

Cook Time

20 min

Total Time

1 hr

Servings

8

16 pieces

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Budget

$

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Qatayef

Stuffed sweet pancakes fried or baked for Ramadan

Fluffy yeasted pancakes folded around sweet cheese or nut filling, sealed, fried until crispy, and drenched in sugar syrup. The quintessential Ramadan dessert across the Arab world.

40m

Prep Time

20m

Cook Time

60m

Total Time

8

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Budget $

Cost

Mediterranean CuisineDessertVegetarian
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

May 22, 2023(Updated April 13, 2026)

Qatayef are special pancakes cooked on one side only, creating a spongy surface perfect for absorbing syrup. Stuffed with sweet cheese or nuts and fried golden, they're the taste of Ramadan evenings.

Why This Recipe Works

Cooking on one side only creates a bubbly, porous surface that soaks up syrup beautifully. The yeast batter develops a slightly tangy flavor that balances the sweet syrup.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 cups flour and 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 1 cup warm water and 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 cup ricotta or sweet akkawi cheese (filling)
  • 1/4 cup crushed pistachios (for garnish)
  • Oil for frying
  • Sugar syrup (1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup water, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp orange blossom water)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make syrup: boil sugar and water with lemon juice 5 minutes, add orange blossom water. Cool completely.

  2. 2

    Whisk flour, yeast, sugar, and warm water into a smooth batter. Rest 30 minutes until bubbly.

  3. 3

    Cook small ladles of batter on a non-stick pan over medium heat—one side only. Remove when top is set and bubbly.

  4. 4

    Place filling on the uncooked side, fold in half, and pinch edges to seal tightly.

  5. 5

    Deep-fry sealed qatayef at 350°F for 2-3 minutes until golden. Immediately dip in cold syrup and garnish with crushed pistachios.

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

RicottaSweet akkawi or mozzarella

More traditional stretchy cheese filling

Deep-fryingBaking at 400°F

Healthier option, less crispy

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

  • Only cook the pancakes on one side—the bubbly uncooked side is what gets sealed.

  • Seal the edges firmly so filling doesn't leak during frying.

Storage

Best eaten fresh and warm. Store unfilled pancakes for 1 day.

Reheating

Re-fry briefly or warm in a 375°F oven for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (15mg) · 8 servings

Calories220
LowModerateHigh

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

Protein6g
Carbohydrates8g
Fat32g
Fiber180mg
Sugar1g
Sodium18g

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bake instead of fry?
Yes, brush with butter and bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. They won't be as crispy.
What fillings are traditional?
Sweet cheese (akkawi), walnuts with cinnamon and sugar, or ashta cream.

Explore More

More Mediterranean RecipesMore DessertVegetarian RecipesStovetop 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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