Sugar-Free Knafeh
Indulge in the Middle Eastern delight of Sugar-Free Knafeh, a guilt-free take on the classic dessert that’s rich, cheesy, and irresistibly crispy! This recipe swaps traditional sugar for a stevia-based substitute and adds a touch of honey to create a luscious, naturally sweetened syrup infused with lemon and orange blossom water. Layers of buttery kadaif pastry embrace a creamy filling of part-skim ricotta and low-fat mozzarella, resulting in a perfectly balanced treat that’s both decadent and lighter on calories. Topped with a generous sprinkle of vibrant pistachios, this sugar-free knafeh is baked to golden perfection, then soaked in a fragrant syrup for a moist yet crispy texture. Ready in just over an hour, this dessert is perfect for sharing, whether at a festive gathering or as an indulgent everyday treat.
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Ingredients
- 500 grams kadaif (kataifi) pastry
- 150 grams unsalted butter, melted
- 500 grams part-skim ricotta cheese
- 250 grams low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 3 tablespoons stevia-based sugar substitute
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
- 50 grams chopped pistachios
Directions
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Step 2
Place the kadaif pastry in a large bowl and gently loosen the strands. Pour the melted butter over the pastry, ensuring all strands are evenly coated.
Step 3
In another bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, and 2 tablespoons of the sugar substitute. Mix until smooth and well blended.
Step 4
Grease a 30 cm (12-inch) round baking pan. Layer half of the buttered kadaif pastry evenly across the bottom of the pan, pressing down slightly to form a base.
Step 5
Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the base layer of pastry.
Step 6
Top with the remaining kadaif pastry, pressing down gently to ensure it adheres to the cheese filling.
Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and crisp.
Step 8
While the knafeh bakes, prepare the syrup. In a small saucepan, combine water, lemon juice, honey, the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar substitute, and orange blossom water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 5-7 minutes until slightly thickened.
Step 9
Once the knafeh is out of the oven, immediately pour the warm syrup evenly over it. Let it rest for at least 10 minutes to absorb the syrup.
Step 10
Garnish with chopped pistachios before serving. Enjoy warm, cut into wedges.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (1813.4g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 5202.3 |
| Total Fat 325.5g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 180.7g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g | |
| Cholesterol 813.0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 3838.9mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 393.8g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 15.4g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 244.3g | |
| Protein 165.4g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 3350.9mg | 0% |
| Iron 13.3mg | 0% |
| Potassium 1898.9mg | 0% |
Source of Calories