Kataifi

It is time for another Greek speciality. Today I will present to you one of the most popular Greek desserts, called Kataifi (Καταΐφι).

Kataifi is made with a special dough that is in the form of thin threads. The filling consists of chopped walnuts (sometimes other nuts), cinnamon and clove. The buttered Kataifi dough is then wrapped around the filling. Finally, you bath the sweet in syrup with lemons and let it cool down before serving.

But let’s now take a look at the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 450g Kataifi dough
• 250g walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• a pinch ground clove
• 250g butter from cow’s milk

For the syrup:

• 450g sugar
• 330g water
• peel of 1 lemon
• 1 cinnamon stick

First of all, we prepare the syrup. Add all the ingredients for the syrup into a small pot and boil it. When the sugar has dissolved, put the syrup to the side and let it cool down.

For the filling you have to grind the walnuts, cinnamon and clove in a mortar until the walnuts are roughly chopped but not powdered.

Melt the butter and butter a baking pan with a diameter of approximately 26-28cm.

Work the Kataifi dough with your hands. Spread out the strands a bit if they clump together. Cover the dough with a moistened towel.

Take pieces of the Kataifi dough and spread it on a surface. Pour some melted butter over it and place 1 teaspoon of filling at one end. Roll it up tightly forming a cylinder, put it in a pan and brush it with melted butter. Repeat the process with the rest of the Kataifi dough.

Bake the Kataifi in a preheated oven at 170-180 °C for 1 hour. The Kataifi should be nicely coloured and crispy.

When you take the Kataifi out of the oven, pour ¾ of the syrup layer by layer over it. Always wait for the layer to be absorbed. Wait for 10 minutes and pour the rest of the syrup over the Kataifi. Serve the Kataifi when it is cold!

Καλή όρεξη!