Kunefe

I first had this at a Turkish restaurant my husband and I love to have dinner at now and then. It's a sweet dessert and it doesn't take much to get your fill. The shredded phyllo dough can be found in Turkish food stores or some halal markets.....if you can't find that the very fine vermicelli that's sold in Indian groceries works as well. I'll try to post pictures at a later date.


½ package kadayif* or vermicelli
8 Tbsp. melted butter
1 ½ Tbsp. milk
¼ pound fresh mozzarella, grated
12 oz. ricotta cheese
½ cup ground pistachios
2 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
1/8 tsp. grated fresh nutmeg
3 cups water
1 ½ cup sugar
Rose water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In bottom of 8 or 9 inch glass baking dish put a layer of kadayif followed by mixture of butter and milk. Mix the cheese with the pistachios, confectioner’s sugar, and nutmeg. Spread on first layer of kadayif. Top with remaining kadayif. Bake for 45 minutes. Make a sugar syrup by boiling water with sugar. Cook until reduced by a third and is thick. Stir in rose water. When kunefe comes out of oven, pour the syrup over it and serve.

*Kadayif or Kataifi is shredded phyllo dough