Home-baked Cheesecake Challenge : Flavour no.12 Kunafah Cheesecake

Arabic Cheesecake anyone? I was searching for a recipe of arabic cheesecake to no avail but I guess, kunafah jubna (Cheese) is the nearest idea I can think of, so here it is! Flavour no. 12 : Kunafah Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 package Kunafah dough

1/2 cup milk

3/4 cup unsalted butter (melted and warm)

orange food colour

Cheese filling:

1 kilo mozzarella cheese ( Akawi cheese or nabulsi cheese are more popular here in Jeddah)

200 g Mascarpone cheese (cottage or ricotta cheese is also commonly used)

Syrup:

2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup water

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp rose water

Topping:

Ground pistachio

Pre heat oven mark Gas #3

Prepare the baking pan with melted butter mix with food colour .

Shred or cut the Kunafah dough, mix with butter and milk

Press it flat to the baking tin, add the cheese mixture and add another layer of kunafah dough on top.

Baked for 40 minutes at 370 degrees C.

Meanwhile, make the syrup, mix all liquid ingredient and sugar ,bring to boil for 10 min. Set aside

I also made a mini version of Kunafah Cheesecake. The same mixture , I only added more pistachio and walnuts. You can add any nuts. Oh by the way, I noticed that mostly of the dishes here in Jeddah are decorated with nuts, not only sweets but also rice and some dishes. nuts and nuts and we all go nuts! joke 🙂

Serving Suggestions:

Ladies, try any creative variations,..I love the orange colour! 🙂

Cheers,

Jamilamimi