3. Kunafa

This is a desert that I first tasted in grade 5 and it was simply heavenly. Whenever I got out to buy some stationery for school I’d pass by a restaurant and watch as the server slices a rectangle from a flat circular thing and then lifts up the rectangular thing in all its stringy, cheesy goodness. It was so weird and strange, it looked like cheesy, hard orange and normal colored extremely thin, and I was so curious to taste it… especially as I was, and still am, a sucker for cheese. So, one day when I got some pocket money with me when I went out to buy some stationery for a project, I decided to buy a slice for 7 dhs and I was so excited to try it as I watched the server slice it up for me. When I got home, I prepared my materials to begin my project then I brought out my study sack, the kunafah. The first bite was just simply splendid. It was such an interesting texture, let me try to explain the flavor by going over the texture.

First is the very base, the thing noodle-like pastry for crunch.

Second the cheese~ for that slightly salty, creamy, stretchy goodness.

Third is the sweet syrup

And finally topped with some crushed nuts like pistachios.

So, when I bit into the piece, I got there was this satisfying crunchy texture from the noodle like pastry, then the chewy texture of the cheese. Next thing was the taste salty, sweet, and milky in a combination you wouldn’t have thought would taste good. But it was good. And I did more eating then doing my project for the next few minutes… but one thing I learned after the shop I bought Kunafa from (yup, I became a regular) closed is that not all shops get it right. As you can guess, getting that perfect balance of salty, sweet, and milky is not acquired by every store that sells Kunafa. Some aren’t even fresh, Kunafa doesn’t taste as good as when it’s warm as the texture drastically changes and even the flavor seems different. So, when you’re looking for a good place to buy great Kunafa, ask the locals. Arabic restaurants don’t have much reviews. I found that the hidden restaurants have the most amazing hidden gems.