Ekmek kataifi is the Greek celebration dessert that refuses to choose: a crisp base of buttered kataifi (shredded phyllo) soaked in cinnamon-lemon syrup, a thick vanilla custard, clouds of whipped cream, and a crown of pistachios. Every layer argues its case; every forkful wins.
The name betrays its Greek-Ottoman ancestry — ekmek means “bread” in Turkish — and versions of it grace holiday tables across the eastern Mediterranean.
It looks like patisserie work but builds in forgiving stages: bake, syrup, custard, chill, whip, crown. Each step is simple; the assembled result is a standing ovation.
Ekmek Kataifi Recipe
What you need
Ingredients
- For the base:
- 1 pound kataifi dough, thawed and separated
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- For the syrup:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the custard:
- 4 cups whole milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 egg yolks
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the topping:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 cup chopped pistachios or walnuts
Cook along
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch dish. Spread the kataifi in the dish, drizzle with the melted butter, and bake 30 minutes, until golden.
- Meanwhile, boil the sugar, water, cinnamon and lemon juice, then simmer 10 minutes. Off the heat, add the vanilla.
- Pour the warm syrup over the baked kataifi and let it soak in.
- For the custard: heat the milk until steaming. Whisk the sugar, yolks, cornstarch and vanilla, temper with the hot milk, then return to the pan and cook, stirring, until thick. Cool slightly.
- Spread the custard over the kataifi and chill at least 2 hours.
- Whip the cream with the powdered sugar to stiff peaks and spread over the custard.
- Crown with the nuts, slice into squares, and serve cold.
WhatsApp Channel
Healthy Mediterranean recipes, straight to your phone
No groups, no clutter — just healthy Mediterranean recipes, sent as soon as they're ready. Follow the channel and never miss the next one.
Follow the ChannelEnjoy our recipes? Add Maria’s Cookbook as a preferred source on Google to see more of our content in your search results.
