Greek Ekmek Kataifi recipe (Custard and whipped cream pastry with syrup) (2024)

FAQs

What is Greek kataifi made of? ›

Kataifi is a Greek dessert made of kataifi pastry dough. A filling of nuts, sugar and aromatic spices are rolled and baked in a buttered dough. The dough nests are then drizzled with sugar syrup. The result is a sweet, buttery and crispy treat.

layers of shredded phyllo pastry (Kataifi), baked until. crispy and golden, topped with creamy thick vanilla. custard and whipped cream.

Kataifi is a pastry made up of delicate, thin strands of shredded filo dough. This delicate pastry is traditionally used to make crunchy buttery nests or shredded wheat logs filled with chopped nuts and either honey or syrup.

Ekmek Politiko is a bread pudding soaked in syrup, topped with traditional kaimaki ice-cream (often made with buffalo milk, this vanilla flavour is spiced with ground orchid root).

The term Kataifi means a particular filamentous pasta that has been produced by Greek artisans since ancient times. It's with this pasta that today the confectioners prepare the sweet kataifi, using pasta, dried fruit and honey.

Spanokopita and Tiropita

There are two traditional phyllo pastries most commonly found in Greek restaurants or delis, Spanokopita containing mainly spinach and Tiropita, which has cheese and egg filling. They are either shaped into triangles, rectangular or cigars, but sometimes as a large pie.

What is the difference between baklava and kataifi? The difference between baklava and kataifi is that the former is made with sheets of phyllo dough, while the latter is made with shredded phyllo dough. Kataifi is made by shredding phyllo dough into fine, hair-like strands, then rolled up with nuts in the center.

Pide (pronounce: 'pie-DEH') or pide ekmek are the large, round or oval Turkish flatbreads that are generally what gets called Turkish bread outside Turkey.

In Turkey, the dessert is simply Ekmek, a bread pudding soaked in syrup and topped with Kaimak (Kaimaki), a sweetened clotted cream. The Greek take on this dessert consists of a kataifi pastry base/bottom, a semolina cream center and a topping of whipped cream.

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.

Does kataifi need to 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.

In Turkey, it is called künefe. In the Balkans, the shredded dough is similarly known as kadaif/cataif, and in Greece as kadaifi, and is the basis of various dishes rolled or layered with it, including dessert pastries with nuts and sweet syrups.

From the traditional baklava and milk pie (galaktoboureko) to regional classics like Thessaloniki's pastry triangles and seasonal specials, this Greek desserts recipe collection has got you covered!

Naturally, this dessert can be found in many cuisines, including the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and even the Greek cuisines. The first written record of baklava was found in the 10th-century book written in Urdu. It was only later that the Ottoman Empire would adopt this sweet treat into its cuisine.

From traditional baklava to modern loukoumades, there is something to satisfy every sweet tooth. One of the most famous Greek desserts is diples. Diples are a type of pastry made from thin sheets of dough that are fried and then rolled in honey syrup and topped with chopped walnuts and cinnamon.

Traditionally, filo dough is made from wheat flour, water and a small amount of oil or melted butter. Sometimes, a small amount of vinegar is added into the dough as well. It's first rolled out and then stretched by hand into very large, extremely thin sheets.

Phyllo dough includes only flour, water, vinegar, and a little oil. The fine sheets of pastry dough result in a crispy, crackly effect when layered and baked. When brushed with butter and stacked, they form a flaky crust that is essential for Middle Eastern desserts like baklava and Greek dishes like spanakopita.

What is Greek baklava made of? A traditional Greek baklava recipe uses phyllo dough, walnuts, cinnamon, and honey syrup. It's traditionally diamond-shaped as well, and it's one of the best baklava types I have tried!