Qatayef With Walnuts
Middle Eastern yeasted pancakes filled with cinnamon-spiced walnuts, fried until crisp, and dipped in orange-blossom syrup.
Instructions
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Step 1
Combine 1 ½ cup (300 gr) sugar and ¾ cup (180 ml) water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring only until the sugar dissolves.
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Step 2
Add the lemon juice, reduce to low heat, and simmer for 8 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the orange blossom water, and leave the syrup to cool.
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Step 3
Whisk the flour, semolina, yeast, baking powder, salt, and 1 ¼ tbsp (15 gr) sugar together in a mixing bowl.
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Step 4
Gradually whisk 1 ¼ cup (310 ml) water into the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth and pourable. Cover and rest until slightly foamy.
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Step 5
Mix the walnuts, ground cinnamon, and remaining 2 ¾ tbsp (35 gr) sugar in a clean mixing bowl.
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Step 6
Heat a dry frying pan over medium heat. Ladle the batter into approximately sixteen 8 cm rounds and cook each on one side until the top is dry and covered with set bubbles, about 1–2 minutes.
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Step 7
Place some walnut filling in the center of each pancake. Fold the pancake over with the cooked side facing outward, then firmly pinch the edges together to form sealed half-moons.
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Step 8
Pour the vegetable oil into a deep pot and heat it to 175°C over medium heat.
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Step 9
Fry the sealed qatayef in small batches until crisp and evenly golden, turning once. Transfer them to a wire rack with a slotted spoon.
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Step 10
Dip each hot qatayef in the cooled syrup for 30–60 seconds, then return it to the wire rack to drain briefly before serving.