How to Make Cheese Kunafa

Mix these ingredients well, then spread the mixture into a large baking tray.

Place the tray in a preheated oven on the middle rack.

Bake with heat from the bottom for 10 minutes, then from the top for 5 minutes.

When the kunafa frik dries, remove it from the oven and let it cool. Crumble it by hand, then pulse in a food processor until very fine to obtain a smooth kunafa frik.

Stir in the fine semolina and mix well.

When the cheese begins to take on a stringy, elastic texture as you lift it, add the orange blossom water and continue stirring.

When the cheese turns into a cream-like mixture, remove from the heat.

With the kunafa frik prepared in advance, pour the cheese mixture over the frik and place in a preheated oven for 10 minutes.

Transfer the kunafa to a larger tray, immediately pour over sugar syrup (qatr/shira), and garnish with ground pistachios.

Tip: If using ready-made frik, rub it gently with a little ghee. For assembly, brush the bottom of the pan with ghee (about 2 tbsp) and mix a little ghee into the frik to help it bind. Spread gently into the pan with light pressure and bake in the center of the oven at medium heat for about 45 minutes, until browned underneath and at the edges.