cheese kunafa

Cheese kunafa:

For kunafa pastry:

1. Laccha shemai or kunafa dough or kataif: 500 mg
2. Butter: 1/2cup
3. Nuts: ½ cup

And

4. Orange food color: ½ tsp

For cheese filling:

1. Powder Milk: 1/4cup
2. Mozzarella or cottage or ricotta or cream cheese: 1cup
3. Vanilla:1tbsp
4. fresh cream : 1/2cup

For syrup:

1. Sugar:1cup
2. Water: ½ cup
3. Lemon juice: 1tbsp
4. Rose water/Golap jol: 1tsp

Instructions:

Preparing kunafa:

Heat the butter in a heavy pan. When the butter completely melts, add laccha shemai or kunafa  dough. Keep stirring constantly until the kunafa is light brown on medium heat. Add ground nuts. Keep stir well and turn off the heat.

Preparing cheese filling:

In a bowl, mix the shredded cheese with powder milk and cream. Add vanilla and set aside.

Assemble for bake:

Pour 1tsp butter and orange food coloring onto on baking tray. Spread all over the tray. Place half of the kunafa dough or laccha shemai on the baking tray. Make a flat layer of kunafa and spread the cream mixer over it, and cover with the rest of the kunafa. With both palms, press down on the top layer and flatten the kunafa.

Bake in a pre-heated 350F oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown.after 40 mins remove kunafa from oven and let it cool completely.

Preparing syrup:

In a small saucepan on high heat add water, sugar, lemon juice, bring to a boil then reduce to low, cook for 5 minutes. Cook until thick, like a syrup. Add rose water and turn off the heat.

Pour some hot syrup over the  kunafa. Garnish with some nuts…

Serve hot or cold.

Enjoy…