Description
A luxurious fusion dessert combining crispy kunafa nests with syrup-soaked gulab jamun, enriched with fresh cream and garnished with pistachios for an elegant, flavorful treat.
Ingredients
250 g kunafa (kataifi) dough
½ cup melted butter
180 g gulab jamun mix
150 g fresh cream
Pistachio, for garnish
3 cups granulated sugar
4 cups water
2 Tbsp lemon juice
5 cardamom pods
1 tsp saffron
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, dissolve sugar in water. Bring to a gentle boil, remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice, cardamom, and saffron.
- Pour three-quarters of the syrup into a wide dish for soaking gulab jamun. Reserve the remaining syrup for drizzling.
- Prepare gulab jamun according to package directions. Roll into small balls and deep-fry until golden brown and cooked through.
- Soak hot gulab jamun in the syrup bath for at least 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 180 °C and grease a muffin or cupcake tin. Brush kunafa dough with melted butter, twist into nest shapes, and press into tin wells.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until crisp and golden. Let cool slightly.
- To assemble, place each kunafa nest on a serving plate. Spread fresh cream in the base, top with 2–3 soaked gulab jamun, and drizzle with reserved syrup. Garnish with pistachios and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use rose water in syrup for floral flavor.
- Sweetened mascarpone can replace fresh cream.
- Swap pistachios with almonds or walnuts.
- Add honey or rose syrup for richer syrup.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat kunafa nests in the oven and gulab jamun in the microwave before assembling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus 45 minutes syrup soak)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (syrup), 10 minutes (frying), 12–15 minutes (baking)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking and Frying
- Cuisine: Fusion (Middle Eastern & South Asian)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 nest
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
