Degchi
Qatayef
Serves 4 · Total 40 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 20 min
Soft, spongy little pancakes cooked on one side only, then folded around sweet cheese or nuts and either baked or deep-fried until golden, finished with sugar syrup. The dessert everyone waits for at Ramadan iftar.
Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: All-purpose flour, Semolina, Instant dry yeast, Baking powder · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 200 g 1.6 cup All-purpose flour
- 50 g 0.3 cup Semolina
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Instant dry yeast
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Baking powder
- 200 g 7 oz Cheese, sweet soft cheese, or crushed nuts as an alternative filling
- 200 g 1 cup Sugar
- 500 ml 2 cup Cooking oil, for deep-frying (optional, if not baking)
Steps
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- Whisk flour, semolina, yeast and baking powder with water into a smooth, pourable pancake batter; rest for 30 minutes.⏱ Resting batter · 30 min
- Pour small rounds onto a hot griddle and cook on one side only until bubbles cover the surface and it looks dry on top.⏱ Cooking qatayef · 2 min
- Stack the cooked pancakes, cooked side out, under a damp cloth to keep them soft.
- Place a spoon of sweet cheese or nuts on the uncooked side, fold in half and pinch the edges firmly to seal like a dumpling.
- Deep-fry until golden, or bake at 190°C until golden, then dip immediately in cooled sugar syrup.⏱ Frying or baking · 6 min
- Transfer to a serving dish and serve while fresh.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Qatayef take?
40 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
Is Qatayef hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 6 steps, and 3 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Qatayef serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Qatayef halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Qatayef?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: instant dry yeast, cooking oil. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: cheese. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: all-purpose flour, semolina, baking powder, sugar.
Notes and questions
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