WARNING: You may make this dessert and never stop making it.
ADVICE: Send some to me, I'll help you do away with it!
Kullaj is a Middle Eastern dessert that is FABULOSITY itself! It is also called Namoura and Warbat and consists of phyllo dough stuffed with a cheese custard, a hint of sweetness, and crushed pistachios on top! It is VERY DELICIOUS. Now, this is not Kanafe, but is one of its cousins. I learned that it is particularly associated with the Ramadan holiday (which is today). Even Trip Advisor says it's the "best dessert in Jerusalem".
Here is a recipe
and....Here is another recipe
Ohhhhh.....MMMMMMmmmmmm! I CANNOT believe how fantastic this meal turned out!! Chicken pesto turned into chicken/pesto/broccoli/ DELICIOUSNESS.Here is how I made it, a spin off of several you'll find on the internets.Ingredients:- chicken tenders, on the thin side is nice- two packets of Knorr pesto sauce mix (has always been my fav)- package of skim Mozzarella grated cheese- Olive oil - cooking spray- broccoli- pine nuts- spices I used were: salt, ground oregano, garlic powderWhat to do:- pre-heat over to 365 degrees F (just in case you think in Kelvin or other..)- mix pesto packets in bowl with one cup water and 1/3 cup olive oil- add pine nuts (as much as you like, I liked a LOT) and stir- spray glass baking dish- pour 1/4 bowl of your pesto mixture in glass dish- lay the chicken strips on top of that- dash with garlic powder- dash with ground oregano- pour the rest of your pesto mixture on top of the chicken. Some of it slid off so I scooped up some pine nuts to make sure they rested on top- dash with salt- COVER with aluminum foilBake- Bake at 375 F for 25 min- remove from oven and turn over the chicken strips which are not quite done- re-scoop pine nuts so some are on top- add one handful of finely chopped broccoli - bake 5-10 more minutes
Continuing:- Remove from oven, remove foil- add the rest of your broccoli now (I like crispy - or at least non-mushy broccoli)- add your Mozzarella cheese. Add lots. Oh heck, live dangerously, add the whole package- stir a tad and then drizzle a few spoonfuls of pesto sauce on the top- broil for 3 minutes, watching it so it bubbles and boils and browns, BUT doesn't BURN.
THEN...- remove from oven- bask in the glory that is chicken pesto broccoli deliciousness- take pictures and post all over social media- EAT, don't forget to eat. :-)
OK! I AM SO HAPPY THAT THIS WORKED!I made broccoli pizza crust! The recipe is below, BUT you have to know I forgot the tomato sauce so will make it again and have a more traditionally topped pizza! I've been wanting to try this for three weeks, but haven't had the time. This evening after choir rehearsal, I picked up necessary ingredients at the store and then FORGOT the tomato sauce. I decided to try it anyway as I had most everything else. It turned out beautifully! I made it because I hate cauliflower, even in pizza crust form, and I love broccoli and thought I could make a healthier pizza! WARNING: Still not the most healthy food...Here's how it looks as a finished product:Ingredients:- one egg- parmesan cheese (maybe 1/4 cup)- Spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder, curry, rosemary, Basil, Greek spice mixture, ground oregano, whatever (healthy shakes)- a head of BROCCOLI
What I did:- cleaned a bowl (woot!)- chopped a head of broccoli up, nice and super fancy fine like a real chef (I'm sure some folks would use a food processor)- shook some garlic, salt, pepper, and curry over it while chanting (just kidding) - making it a second time, I eliminated the salt & pepper & curry, only used a lunch of garlic.
- cracked an egg into it- added the parmesan cheese- stirred it- added a minor sprinkle of cheddar cheese- gathered the lump and placed it on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam- took pictures :-)Cooking the lump:- 400 degrees- cook 10 minutes or until starting to get brown on edges- take out and add toppings (I added mozzarella cheese and pepperoni and would have added tomato sauce and oregano if I hadn't forgotten the sauce)- Cook 10-15 more minutes until it looks like it's done- take a picture :-)- EAT IT
How does it taste?- A little eggy, a lot broccoli-y- tasty :-)
- the tomato sauce will add necessary ZING!
OPTIONS- Make thinner. After it has cooked 10 min., lift, re-spray pan- drizzle with olive oil, dash with rosemary- spread tomato sauce over it before topping with cheeses etc.
Kullaj is a Middle Eastern dessert that is FABULOSITY itself! It is also called Namoura and Warbat and consists of phyllo dough stuffed with a cheese custard, a hint of sweetness, and crushed pistachios on top! It is VERY DELICIOUS. Now, this is not Kanafe, but is one of its cousins. I learned that it is particularly associated with the Ramadan holiday (which is today). Even Trip Advisor says it's the "best dessert in Jerusalem".
