Qatayef (Cheese & Walnut Pancakes)

Ramadan is upon us and this is the perfect recipe for a dessert. Qatayef is the Middle East’s answer to pancakes, the ultimate dessert during the holy month of Ramadan. It’s essentially a folded pancake with a walnut or cheese filling that’s topped with a drizzle of syrup. Yet another sumptuous recipe in my upcoming cookbook. Enjoy and happy Ramadan / Ramadan Kareem!

Makes 18 pancakes

Ingredients:

Pancakes:
3 cups lukewarm water
2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup fine semolina flour
1¾ tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp granulated sugar
¼ tsp salt

 Walnut filling:
2 cups chopped walnut
1 tbsp granulated sugar
¾ tsp ground cinnamon

  Cheese filling:
2 cups Akkawi cheese, crumbled
1 tbsp granulated sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon

8 tbsp melted butter

Sugar syrup (2 cups):
2 cup sugar
1½ cups water
1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

– In the bowl of a food processor, blend the water, semolina flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until a batter-like consistency forms, about 3 minutes. Let stand for 30 minutes.

– Prepare the walnut filling by combining the walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon, mix well. Do the same with the cheese filling.

– In a dry, large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, add ¼ cup of batter. Cook until bubbles form on top and the batter is no longer wet, 3 to 4 minutes (if bubbles do not show within the first 5 to 10 seconds, the pan is not hot enough). Transfer the pancake to a tray and cover with a clean towel to keep it from drying. Repeat with the remaining batter.

– Place 2 to 3 tbsp of the filling in the middle of 1 pancake. Fold the pancake in half, pinching the seam firmly to seal. Place on a baking sheet and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Repeat until all fillings are done.

– To make sugar syrup, combine sugar and water in a small pot over medium heat, whisk constantly until the sugar dissolves and bubbles, about 14 minutes. Set aside to cool down.

– Preheat the oven to 375F.

– Brush both sides of each pancake with the melted butter. Bake in the preheated oven until light golden, about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

– Drizzle with the sugar syrup. Serve immediately.

You know it’s the holy month of Ramadan when katay is on the menu these delicious folded pancakes are super tasty they’re very simple to make in a food processor simply add the water carefully add the flour the fine simol and baking powder add a little bit of sugar and a

Pinch of salt then close the lid and liquefy until smooth add to a bowl cover and let rest for 30 minutes to make the filling mix the Walnut sugar with a little bit of cinnamon and mix well for the cheese filling mix the cheese sugar and cinnamon and using a fork mix

Breaking up the mixture in a heated nonstick pan add 1/4 cup of the batter it should start bubbling immediately cook until no longer wet on top cover with a towel to avoid drying lay a pancake in your palm add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling bring sides together and pinch closed repeat

Until you’re done with the others lay on a tray distinguishing the cheese from the Walnut ones brush the pancakes generously with butter turn over and brush the other side bake in a 375 oven for 20 minutes turning halfway drizzle with sugar syrup and enjoy immediately while hot happy Ramadan