Desserts
How to Make the 'Fake' Kunafa
A 'fake' kunafa recipe using readily available, low-cost ingredients. This shortcut kunafa saves you from needing special kunafa pastry and is easy to prepare.
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Recipe story
How to make the 'fake' kunafa — the perfect recipe to rescue you when you need a quick dessert and don't have all the special ingredients!
Ingredients
- 5 cups milk
- 1 cup semolina, coarse or medium
- 2 teaspoons rose water
- 2 teaspoons orange blossom water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup crushed cornflakes
- 126 g sweet butter
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese
- Syrup (Qater / Shireh):
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon rose water
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
- To make petit fours Rasmiyya's way, here is the link: How to make petit fours
Method
- Start by preparing the syrup: mix the water and sugar and cook over the heat for about 15 minutes. Add the rose water and orange blossom water, turn off the heat, and set the syrup aside.Timers: 15 min
- Grease an oven tray (30 cm × 42 cm) with butter, then sprinkle a little crushed cornflakes over it.
- Place 2 1/2 cups milk in a saucepan, add 1/2 cup semolina and 1 tablespoon butter, stir while cold then put on the heat and stir until the mixture thickens. Add 1 tablespoon rose water and 1 tablespoon orange blossom water and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the tray and spread it well with a spatula until you have a smooth, even surface.
- Distribute the mozzarella cheese over the mixture until it is completely covered.
- Repeat with the remaining milk and semolina, pouring this second mixture over the cheese and spreading well so it fully covers the cheese.
- Sprinkle the crushed cornflakes over the semolina layer until it is completely covered.
- Cut the butter into small pieces and distribute them over the cornflakes, or melt the butter and pour it over instead.
- Place the tray on the lower rack of the oven at 200°C for about 25 minutes, then brown the top for a few minutes, taking care not to burn it.Timers: 25 min
- Serve the 'fake' kunafa hot with the syrup as desired.
Notes and serving ideas
- How to make petit fours
- How to make pineapple cake






