By Farah Alothaim
As we are approaching the holy month of Ramadan, many delicious sweets come to mind. The seasonal desserts add a special flavor to Ramadan as many waits for this month to indulge in their favorite kind of sweets. The following list contains some of the most popular and delicious sweets during this special season.
Luqimat
Luqimat is a traditional dessert that is popular in Saudi Arabia and strongly tied with Ramadan. It is made of dough that is fried and dazzled with dates syrup or honey. The best pairing with Luqimat is Arabic coffee. It should always be served fresh and eaten upon serving. The perfect texture is crunchy, sweet, and fluffy. A few years ago, luqimat became a trendy dessert and many shops that are dedicated to these doughy balls have put their own flavorful twists to it. They have added chocolate, pistachio syrup, and other interesting, unique flavors that are turning this traditional dessert modern.
Where to get luqimat: Harat Alluqaimat | Luqaimat Tuf | Shahad Pastry | Rozana Lounge
Kanafeh
Kanafeh is a Mediterranean dessert that originated from Nabuls in Palestine. It is made of fine semolina dough stuffed with cheese, lebnah (clotted cheese) and topped with crushed pistachio. Kanafeh is usually soaked in sugar-based syrup and often served hot. There are four popular types of kanafeh: rough, fine, mixed, and twined. The rough kanafeh is made from thin noodle threads, while the fine is made from semolina dough. The mix version is made of half rough and half fine while the twined is prepared with noodle-like pastry. You can choose any fillings with those four types. This dessert is enjoyed best with a cup of Turkish coffee.
Where to get Kanafeh: Konafa Taste | Kunafah Abul Haus | Golden Kunafa | Al Aker Sweets | Saadeddin Pastries
Om Ali
Originating from Egypt and spread through many Arab countries, Om Ali’s literal meaning is Ali’s mother. Om Ali is prepared through cooking layers of puff pastry, adding some milk to it, and your favorite selection of nuts. Om Ali is similar to bread pudding and better enjoyed while it is warm. The texture of Om Ali is soggy as the milk adds richness to it and the nuts on top gives it some crunch. One bite of Om Ali and you will be hooked forever. Most types of coffee go well with Om Ali. However, since it is a heavy dessert, my recommendation is to eat it with black coffee.
Where to get Om Ali: Saudi Kitchen | Lamis Restaurant | Mayrig | Burj Al Hammam Bistro
Qatayef
Qatayef is most popular in Levant countries and Egypt. It is a layer of mini pancake stuffed with different fillings and garnished with pistachio. The top four popular fillings are cheese, custard, crushed nuts and clotted cheese. It can be served soft or crunchy, prepared half open or closed. Qatayef is usually covered with honey or rose water and better enjoyed with Arabic coffee.
Where to get Qatayef: Arafat Sweets | Burj Alhammam Bistro | Habibah Sweets | Alsaa Bakery I Patisserie Jareer
Baklava
A traditional dessert that gained its popularity in the Middle East and Turkey, baklava is made of layers of thin dough, stuffed with nuts, and soaked in honey or sugar-based syrup. Baklava is delicate, has a flaky texture and rich in flavor. The dessert is usually cut into small pieces in a diamond shape and served with coffee. Baklava is never a one-piece only dessert, you will always end up eating more.
Where to get Baklava: Saadeddin Pastries | Lokma Istanbul | Gulluoglu Restaurant | Diplomat
With only a few days left until Ramadan, we will see more of those mouth-watering sweets in pastry shops. Many people line up to buy Luqimat right before maghrib prayer and it is a part of Ramadan breakfast essentials for most families in Saudi. While Kanafeh, Om Ali, Qatayef, and Baklava are usually enjoyed after dinner. Wishing you all a sweet celebration of Ramadan with your families and friends.
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