Qatayef (قطايف)

Qatayef is an Arab dessert commonly served in the holy month of Ramadan. They are sort of sweet crepe filled with cheese or nuts. They are similar to pancakes, except only one side is cooked, then folded. Here is the recipe I use to make qatayef.

You will need:

Syrup:

2 cups sugar

1 cup water

3 drops lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon rose water

Qatayef:

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup semolina

1/2 teaspoon yeast

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1 pinch salt

1 tablespoon powder milk (optional)

2 cups warm water

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Vegetable oil for frying

Cheese filling:

1 cup sweet cheese 

Nuts filling:

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup grated coconuts

1/4 cups raisins

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

• Prepare the syrup by combining sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil add and then add the lemon juice drops and rose water. Stir well and set aside to cool down.
• In a deep bowl mix all qatayef dry ingredients well and then add water.
• Put the mix in a blender and blend for few minutes until you get a smooth batter.
• Let the batter rest for a bout an hour.
• Preheat a pancake griddle to 350 degrees (or you can use a frying pan on the stove top).
• Add the lemon juice to the batter and blend it really well.
• Using a ladle pour the batter in small pancakes size (around 3") on the hot griddle (don't flip them like pancakes). Let them cook until top is spongy and the bottom side is lightly brown.
• Put the cooked pancakes between towels to keep them moist. While the pancakes are cooling down prepare the filling.
• Fill the qatayef with cheese or nuts filling. Fold in half and pinch closed along the edge with fingers.
• In a frying pan preheat the oil and then fry the filled qatayef until they are gold (you can also spray them with butter and bake them in the oven until they are gold).
• Submerge the fried qatayef directly in the syrup and enjoy them.