Konafa
Shell
1 pound shredded fillo dough pastry
2 sticks unsalted butter, melted
Cream filling
4 Tbs cream of rice (or finely ground
rice)
2 Tbs sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
(You
can also substitute the above with nuts
such as pistachios).
Syrup
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tbs lemon juice
1 Tbs rose water, or orange blossom
water
(You
can also substitute the above with the
richer "honey") - Tastes great
Prepare the cream filling by mixing the
cream of rice, sugar and 1/2 cup milk to
form a smooth paste. Bring the 2 cups
milk to a boil, then add the rice paste
to the boiling milk slowly with
continuous stirring. Let simmer with
continuous stirring until very thick.
Ensure that it does not lump or stick to
the bottom of the pan.
Allow the milk mixture to cool, then add
the heavy cream. Mix well. Prepare the
syrup by stirring the sugar, water and
lemon juice over medium heat until thick
to the point that it coats the metal
spoon. Add rose water and cook with
stirring for a few more minutes until
well mixed. Remove from heat and cool
slightly in the refrigerator.
To prepare the Konafa, pull out and
separate half Konafa pastry strands.
Pour half of the melted butter over the
konafa pastry. Work the pastry to ensure
that each strand is coated with the
butter. Spread the pastry on the bottom
of a 9x9x2 inches oven dish. Pour cream
filling on the pastry.
Cover the cream filling with the rest of
the pastry strands using the same method
described above. Bake in an oven at 350
for about 10-15 minutes, or until
slightly golden in color. Remove from
the oven and immediately pour the cold
syrup over the hot Konafa. Serve hot or
cold.
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