Karachi’s culinary landscape is extraordinary. It has long been a vibrant and unique blend of traditional Pakistani dishes and flavors with global influences. Kheer, Gulab Jamun, and Jalebi still rule supreme as they’re beloved delights. Nowadays, a new contender has risen and is taking the culinary scene by storm.
Presenting to you the sweet delight from the Middle East made with cream cheese and sweet syrup: The Kunafa.
The Middle Eastern sweet delight is a cottage cheese dessert with a unique combination of vermicelli-like dough containing a stretchy, melted cheese core. Apart from being an instant sensation among Karachiites of multiple circles, it is a dessert that provides people with an authentic experience of the Arab world.
Fun Fact: The dessert is also referred to by the following terms:
- Kinafa.
- Knafeh.
- Konafi.
- Kunafeh.
- Kunaftah.
- Kunefe.
Is it served hot or cold?
The delight is usually served hot and drenched in a fragrant sugary syrup. It offers diners a sensory journey. Here are the things that tie it together:
- The pastry’s satisfying crunch.
- The decadent pull of the melted cottage cheese.
- The fragrant sweetness of the syrup that drenches the Kunafeh.
The anatomy of a Kunafah – Understanding its allure
Baklava was one of the first Arabic sweets in Karachi to grace the palate of Karachiites. Then came the Kunafah, and it won the citizens’ hearts in an instant (expatriates returning from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and the U.A.E. were the ones to introduce these delights here).
The Kunafah does indeed give dessert connoisseurs a magical experience. Yet it is a deceptively simple dessert with properly balanced components. They help keep textures and temperatures in harmony; only a handful of desserts can match.
At the center of the delight is the Kataifi pastry. It is a delicate vermicelli-like dough generously coated in clarified butter. Then it is baked to a delightful golden crisp. The process helps create the crunchy exterior that later gives way to the star of the show: the special sweet cottage cheese.
Once baked, it is then doused in a warm and aromatic sugar syrup (infused with either orange blossom or rose water). This syrup soaks into the pastry, adding moisture and a delicate floral scent. The best part? It does not make the delight soggy.
The final touch is even better. A generous sprinkling of crushed green pistachios gives it both a visual contrast and a nutty crunch.
Various twists on Kunafa that are made in Karachi
Karachi is not only Pakistan’s financial capital but also the center of culinary delights ranging from sweet to savory. The city’s spirit of innovation in the culinary aspects led to numerous delightful variations of Knafeh. Each eatery offers its unique twist on the Middle Eastern classic.
Here are the variations and twists eateries in Karachi offer for the kunafa:
- The classic cheese kunafah.
- Kunafa with cream.
- Knafeh with Chocolate.
- The Lotus Biscoff Kunefe.
- Adding Rabri on the inside of Knafeh adds the typical Karachi twist and flavor.
- Nutella Konafi.
- Kunafeh has a filling of dried fruits, nuts, and nut pastes.
The last one can sound strange to some. But for those with a sweet tooth, these variations are a welcoming omen that have furthered Konafi’s popularity in the metropolis.
The Classic Cheese Kunafa – How good is it?
The quintessential Konafi features traditional sweet cheese melting into a beautiful, stretchy consistency with a crisp exterior. Served with an aromatic sweet syrup and a generous amount of pistachios sprinkled on top, it allows the magic of both the cheese and pastry to shine in each bite. Most eateries use cottage cheese during Knafeh’s preparation, while some use mozzarella.
The secret to making the right cheese Kunafa
What cheese is used in kunafa? Choosing the right cheese is the key to making the best cheese knafeh. It should ideally melt smoothly, offer very slight saltiness to balance the dessert’s (and syrup’s) sweetness, plus it should stretch nicely to create the satisfying cheese pull.
The qualities required to choose the right cheese for the delight
Before we discuss the options in cheese, let us examine the qualities that help in selecting the right choice to make a scrumptious kunefe:
- Its Melting Quality must ensure a cohesive and creamy filling.
- A Balanced Flavor that doesn’t overpower the dessert.
- It should have a good and visually appealing stretch.
- It should have low moisture to prevent the Kunefeh from becoming soggy.
Best options for cheese when it comes to making the best Kunafah
Culinary experts recommend the following different cheeses for making the best cheese Kunafah:
| Type of cheese | Features |
|---|---|
| Nabulsi Cheese |
|
| Akkawai Cheese |
|
| Mozzarella Cheese |
|
| Ricotta Cheese |
|
How good is Baklava Palace’s Cheese Kunafah?
Many eateries make Kinafa. Each of them adds their twist to it. Baklava Palace is a trendsetter in this regard as it not only makes the best Middle Eastern sweets but also was the first to introduce this delightful dessert to the city (and the country, too). Here are the factors that make their Kunafah stand out:
- It offers both cheese and cream fillings: You can choose between a soft cheesy filling, a creamy one, or a delicious blend of both.
- Each Knafeh is baked to perfection and fresh each day. The delight has that signature crispy exterior with a soft cheese-filled center, giving eaters that luscious cheesy pull.
- Baklava Palace has maintained traditional flavors in two ways: 1) by using top-quality and authentic ingredients, and 2) by using long-established recipes.
- The eatery provides thoughtful sizes. Their small serving is best for two to three individuals (preferred for solo indulgence). The large serving is best for four to five people, making sharing easy.
- Each component of their Kunafah is topped to the max. Garnished with a generous amount of crushed pistachios and drizzled with aromatic syrup, each bite of this delight is a wholesome experience.
- Those who order it online will get it delivered in time to their doorstep in perfect piping hot condition.
Suppose you order Konafi from any outlet of Baklava Palace for take-away (especially the cheese one). In that case, you’ll not only enjoy a warm and creamy delight that instantly melts in your mouth, but also experience the incredible atmosphere of each outlet. Soft lights, warm tones, and the irresistible aromas of those freshly baked sweet treats at the counter will certainly make you crave more.
Baklava Palace isn’t just any dessert parlor. It is an experience ranging from their precise baking methods using exceptional ingredients to authentic presentation in a truly warm atmosphere. Each element reflects their love for the craft.
Over to You
Kunafa is indeed a cheesy dessert that has cast a magical appeal on the city’s sweet tooth. Ranging from the traditional versions with cheesy cores to creative fusions with rabri, chocolate, and Lotus Biscoff, the dessert offers Karachiites a dynamic, delicious, and unmatchable experience, catering to a wide array of palates.
Baklava Palace has truly achieved the exceptional. In a landscape where many eateries make very good Knafeh, the dessert parlor excels because it not only introduced the dessert here but also uses authentic ingredients. Moreover, the twists it adds help maintain tradition and modernity in a diverse culinary hotspot.
