An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (2024)

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Nancy Gaifyllia

A resident of Greece, Nancy Gaifyllia is a cook who writes about the country's regional specialties.

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Updated on 06/22/22

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Alongside baklava, kataïfi is one of the most popular Greek desserts and is beloved in other Balkan countries and Middle Eastern regions as well. The dessert is made with a special pastry dough, also called kataïfi, consisting of delicate, thin strands made out of shredded phyllo dough. Rounded out with a nutty filling, this decadent dessert is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious. Kataïfi dough, similar to angel hair pasta in its appearance, is assembled by stuffing and rolling up nests of dough. Like many Greek dessert recipes, simple syrup is poured over after baking to add a sweet finish but also to preserve its freshness, allowing the pastry to last longer.

When baked, the finished product looks like shredded wheat. Perfectly crunchy, kataïfi makes a great finish to any meal, but also a treat to have during a coffee break or in an elegant teatime display. With today's commercially packaged dough, kataïfi is fairly easy to make as the dough comes as a long strip, about three inches wide, making it easy to fill and roll up.

This kataïfi is a great recipe for beginner bakers, and although complex in look, assembling it is not at all difficult. Kataïfi is delicious as is and doesn't need anything else to be an amazing sweet treat, but many opt to top the pastry with other toppings such as whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, custard, ganache, or fruit preserves.

Ingredients

For the Syrup:

  • 1 1/4 cups water

  • 2 1/2 cups sugar, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1 thin strip lemon peel

  • 4 whole cloves

  • 1 tablespoon honey

For the Filling:

  • 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

  • 1 cup almonds, coarsely ground

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1 large egg white, lightly beaten

  • 1 tablespoon brandy

For the Dough:

  • 1 pound kataïfi dough, defrosted per package instructions

  • 8 ounces (1 cup) unsalted butter, melted

Steps to Make It

Make the Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (2)

  2. Heat the water in a saucepan over low heat. Add 2 cups of sugar and stir to dissolve.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (3)

  3. Add the lemon juice, lemon peel, and whole cloves and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (4)

  4. Stir in the honey. Remove from the heat.

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  5. Place a fine-mesh colander over a bowl and strain the syrup. Set aside to cool.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (6)

Make the Filling

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, ground clove, egg white, brandy, and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Stir well with a wooden spoon.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (7)

Assemble and Bake the Kataïfi

  1. Lay the long strip of thawed dough out on a clean work surface and divide it into 18 to 24 pieces, gently spreading the strands out a bit if they clump together. Each piece will be used to create an individual kataïfi roll. Keep the unused dough covered with a piece of waxed paper topped with a damp towel to keep it from drying out.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (8)

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F/175 C. Lightly butter a 9 x 13 baking dish.

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  3. Brush a strip of dough with melted butter.

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  4. Place a tablespoon of the filling at one end of the strip and roll it up into a cylinder, tucking in any stray pieces of dough. Carefully roll the pastry tightly so the filling is securely enclosed. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

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  5. Place the rolls seam-side down in the prepared baking dish, close together but not squashed, and brush well with butter. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until golden brown and crispy looking.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (12)

  6. Remove from the oven, pour the cooled syrup over the pastry, and drape the pan with a clean towel. Let cool about for 3 to 4 hours as it absorbs the syrup.

    An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (13)

  7. Enjoy.

Make-Ahead Kataïfi

This is also a great make-ahead dessert:

  • Prepare the syrup and assemble the rolls the night before, cover tightly with wrap, and refrigerate without baking.
  • Bake as instructed when you need to and add the cold syrup on top. Expert cooks suggest always pouring cold syrup on hot pastry for best results. Allow it to rest for three to four hours.

Can I substitute the kataïfi dough?

Yes. Although finding it at specialty stores or in the freezer aisle of Middle Eastern markets should be easy, if buying it is difficult, use thawed phyllo dough to replace it. Roll it up tightly and slice it as thinly as possible with a very sharp knife. Although it won't have the same texture or appearance as the original dough, it will still make a beautiful and tasty dessert.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
303Calories
19g Fat
33g Carbs
3g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories303
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g24%
Saturated Fat 7g36%
Cholesterol 28mg9%
Sodium 111mg5%
Total Carbohydrate 33g12%
Dietary Fiber 1g5%
Total Sugars 22g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 28mg2%
Iron 1mg3%
Potassium 82mg2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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An Easy Recipe for Kataïfi: Almond and Walnut Pastry in Syrup (2024)

FAQs

Should kataifi be refrigerated? ›

Leftover Fillo or Kataifi Pastry can be placed back in its packaging, sealed tightly and stored in the fridge for later use. Alternatively, you can also make extra portions of the meal, store in an airtight container and keep them in the freezer to be baked at another time.

How do you keep baklava crispy? ›

Cool completely: After pouring the syrup, let the baklava cool completely. This will allow the syrup to penetrate the layers of phyllo pastry and set up properly [3]. Store properly: To maintain the crispiness of the baklava, store it in an airtight container at room temperature.

What is kataifi pastry made of? ›

What is Kataifi Dough made of? Kataifi Pastry is made with a mixture of flour, cornstarch, salt, oil, and water. This thin batter is then spun to make the pastry's fine strands.

Is baklava originally Greek or Turkish? ›

Although the dessert became quite popular through various Greek restaurants, and there is no way to pinpoint where it originated, it is said that the baklava sweet came from modern day Turkey (the Ottoman Empire) and was modernized in today's Greece.

How long can phyllo pastry last in the fridge? ›

Store unopened Athens® Phyllo Dough in the refrigerator instead of the freezer for up to 4 weeks thus it can be on hand and ready to use whenever needed. – Wrap any leftover phyllo tightly with plastic wrap and keep in a cooler for up to 1 week. – For longer storage, refreeze phyllo.

Can you use filo pastry straight from fridge? ›

Store the tightly wrapped filo pastry sheets either in the fridge for up to about 1 week or in the freezer for up to about 2 months. You can use the filo pastry from the fridge straight away, but you need to thaw the frozen filo pastry first.

Can I add more syrup to my baklava? ›

If the syrup has been absorbed, add more syrup so that the baklava is sitting in about 1/2 cm of syrup again. Let sit for 1 hour. Remove 2 pieces from a corner and set to the side. Gently rest the pan on a tilt for 2 hours to drain the excess syrup.

How many layers of phyllo dough should I use? ›

Typically, phyllo dishes should have a finished thickness of 3 to 10 sheets per layer. (A one-pound box of phyllo contains about 20 sheets.) Tip: Phyllo pastries can often be very brittle when baked. We recommend using a serrated knife to cut the finished dish to prevent all of the filling from squishing out.

Should I leave baklava uncovered? ›

Baklava has a really lengthy shelf life, lasting about 2+ weeks. It should be stored in an airtight container, either in room temperature or in the fridge. Storing in room temperature will preserve the crispness. If you like your baklava chewy and a bit harder, store it in the refrigerator.

What dessert is similar to baklava? ›

Kadayif: Kadayif is a dessert made of shredded phyllo pastry that is layered with nuts and soaked in syrup. It has a similar texture to baklava and is often served with a dollop of whipped cream. Revani: Revani is a cake made of semolina flour and soaked in a sweet syrup.

What is the Greek dessert baklava made of? ›

Baklava is a traditional pastry known for its sweet, rich flavor and flaky texture. It consists of phyllo (or filo) dough, nuts, spices, and a sugary syrup.

What is baklava crust made of? ›

Traditional Turkish baklava, also known as fistikli baklava or pistachio baklava is typically made of phyllo dough, finely crushed pistachios, butter, and a simple syrup made of sugar, water, and lemon juice.

Which is better walnut or pistachio baklava? ›

As walnuts have a more bitter flavor than pistachio, it's less sweet than the pistachio and, if you're ordering more than one variety at once, forms a nice counter-balance to many of the sweeter forms of the dessert.

Why is baklava so expensive? ›

Ingredients: High-quality baklava is made with premium ingredients, including nuts (typically pistachios or walnuts), butter, sugar, and phyllo dough. The cost of these ingredients can be significant, especially when using top-quality nuts. Labor-Intensive: Making baklava is a labor-intensive process that requires.

Which country makes the best baklava? ›

The Best Baklava in the World
  • Turkey - In Turkey, there are multiple varieties of baklava to choose from, and you may wonder about missing out on the traditional and traditional types. ...
  • Syria - Syrian baklava is known for its light and flaky texture, as well as its sweetness.
Nov 4, 2023

How long can you keep kataifi? ›

If needed, Kataifi stays fresh at room temperature for one week & can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. For maximum freshness store them in the refrigerator. They will remain crisp, sweet & delicious.

What desserts do not need to be refrigerated? ›

These easy sweet treats are portable, delicious, and require no refrigeration.
  • Picnic Bars. ...
  • Open Face Blueberry Pie: Fresh and Easiest Pie Ever. ...
  • Easy Apple Hand Pies. ...
  • Anytime Fudgy Picnic Chocolate Cake. ...
  • Blackberry Bakewell Squares. ...
  • Homemade Oreo Brownies. ...
  • Summer Apple Pie. ...
  • Melt in Your Mouth Blueberry Cake.
Jun 3, 2022

How long can phyllo sit out? ›

You can store baklava and other phyllo (filo) dough and nut confections at room temperature in air-tight containers for short intervals, perhaps a couple of weeks or less. However for maximum freshness store them in the refrigerator, and even the freezer.

Do you refrigerate dessert shells? ›

Baked sweet- or short-crust pastry shells can be stored in plastic bags in refrigerator up to two days or frozen up to one month. Unbaked pastry dough can be shaped into a disc, placed in freezer plastic bag. Defrost at room temperature or refrigerator until softened but still very cold for easier rolling.

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