Kunafa

Kunafa is traditionally eaten during Ramadan in Arab and middle-eastern countries.I love making this, it is so easy .

Ingredients:

For the syrup:

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cup water
• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 1 tbs orange blossom water or rose water

Cheese filling:

• 1 pound mozzarella
• 1/2 pound ricotta
• 2 tbs sugar
• 2 tbs orange blossom water or rose water
• (blend all this together in a processor)

For pastry:

• 1 pound of defrosted kataifi
• 2 sticks of unsalted butter
• pistachios to garnish

Method:

1. Make your syrup first. Add ingredients and stir on low heat until syrup is thick! Allow to cool then place in fridge.
2. Place your kataifi in a large bowl with your butter, mix and untangle the strings. You will use a 11-12 inch pie pan. Place half of the pastry in the bottom of the pan. Then add cheese filling, pressing down with hand, add remaining of pastry strings. Bake in a 325 f over for 45 mins.
3. After pastry has baked I always place the pan on the stove eye for a few seconds to make my top brown and not pale. With a butter knife go around kunafa, place plate on top and flip. Now you decorate with your nuts(Pista). I grind mine in a processor. 
4. Add the sugar syrup before and after. Then ct into pieces and serve.