Baalbek Knafeh

Baalbek Knafeh is a delightful twist on the traditional Lebanese dessert, featuring a nourishing blend of whole ingredients that cater to health-conscious sweet lovers. This version embraces the rich flavors of pistachios and orange blossom while maintaining a light texture and lower sugar content.

Ingredients

• Whole wheat kataifi pastry - 100 grams
• Low-fat ricotta cheese - 100 grams
• Pistachios, crushed - 30 grams
• Honey - 2 tablespoons
• Orange blossom water - 1 teaspoon
• Coconut oil, melted - 2 tablespoons
• Water - 150 ml
• Stevia or monk fruit sweetener - to taste

Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese with honey, orange blossom water, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
3. In another bowl, lightly toss the kataifi pastry with melted coconut oil until evenly coated.
4. Spread half of the kataifi pastry evenly in the bottom of a small baking dish to create the base layer.
5. Spread the ricotta mixture over the kataifi base, then sprinkle the crushed pistachios on top.
6. Cover the filling with the remaining kataifi pastry, pressing down gently to compact.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden and crispy on top.
8. While the knafeh is baking, prepare a simple syrup by boiling water and adding stevia or monk fruit sweetener to taste. Stir until dissolved.
9. Once the knafeh is done baking, remove it from the oven and drizzle the syrup over the hot dessert.
10. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving, garnished with additional crushed pistachios if desired.

Nutrition

• Calories: 250
• Protein: 10 g
• Carbs: 30 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Cholesterol: 20 mg
• Total Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Water: 0.15 L

Health Benefits

• Whole wheat pastry provides more fiber than traditional pastry, aiding digestion.
• Ricotta cheese is a good source of protein and calcium, contributing to bone health.

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