Egyptian · dessert

Konafa (Kunafa)

Name: Konafa (Kunafa)
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Cuisine: Egyptian
Ingredients: 1 lb shredded kataifi pastry; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 2 cups sweet white cheese; 1.5 cups sugar syrup (1.5 cups water, 1.5 cups sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp orange blossom water); 1/4 cup crushed pistachios

Konafa (Kunafa) reads sweetness 7.6, richness 6.6 and nutty 5.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Egyptian dessert, about 55 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 4.3 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 8.1 / 10
Sour & Bright — 0.5 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 8.2 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 0.6 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Sweetness 7.6 · Richness 6.6 · Nutty 5.4 · Umami 3.8 · Salinity 3.3 · Funk & Ferment 1.7 · Earthy 1.6 · Fruity 1.4 · Bitterness 1.4 · Floral 0.6 · Sourness 0.5

What's in it (5)

1 lb shredded kataifi pastry
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups sweet white cheese
1.5 cups sugar syrup (1.5 cups water, 1.5 cups sugar, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp orange blossom water)
1/4 cup crushed pistachios

Time & effort: about 55 min (25 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 320.6 kcal, 2.3 g protein, 19.3 g fat, 37.1 g carbs

Dietary: Vegetarian · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (4 steps)

Toss the shredded pastry strands in melted butter until well coated.
Press half the pastry into a greased round pan, layer the cheese over, then cover with the remaining pastry and press firm.
Bake until deeply golden and crisp.
Invert onto a serving plate, pour cool sugar syrup generously over the hot konafa, and scatter with crushed pistachios.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Apam Balik (Peanut and Sweetcorn Griddle Pancake) — Malaysian
Gelato al Pistacchio — Italian
Katmer (Pistachio and Clotted Cream Pastry) — Turkish
Pão de Deus — Portuguese
Puto (Steamed Rice Cakes) — Filipino

Keep reading: what sweetness, richness, nutty mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.