Qatayef

"Katayef" redirects here. For other uses, see Outline of kadayif.

For the pastry dough, see Kadayif.

Qatayef or qata'if (Arabic: قطايف [qɑˈtˤɑ:jɪf]) is an Arabic dessert. It is a type of sweet dumpling filled with cream or nuts, or a filled folded pancake with a thickness similar to a Scottish crumpet.

Qatayef

Type	Dumpling, pancake
Place of origin	Middle East
Region or state	Egypt, Levant
Main ingredients	Cream, or a mixture of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, raisins, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon
Media: Qatayef

Assorted Qatayef

Etymology

The Arabic word qaṭaːyif (Arabic: قطايف) is derived from the Arabic root q-ṭ-f, meaning to pick up or to pluck.^[1][2]

Origin

Qatayef is believed to be of Fatimid origin.^[3] Some believe that qatayef are the creation of the Fatimid Dynasty, however, their history dates back to the Abbasid Caliphate, 750–1258 CE.^[4][5] Qatayef was mentioned in a tenth century Arabic cookbook dating back to the Abbasid Caliphate by Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq called Kitab al-Ṭabīḫ (Arabic: كتاب الطبيخ, The Book of Dishes). The book was later translated by Nawal Nasrallah under the name Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens.^[6] The traditional stuffing of Qatayef, as evident in a number of Medieval Arabic cookbooks, is crushed almond and sugar. In these recipes, once the pancake was stuffed, it would sometimes be fried in walnut oil or baked in the oven.^[7] Qatayef was traditionally prepared by street vendors as well as households in Egypt and the Levant. It is usually filled with akkawi cheese, crushed walnuts, as well as crushed pistachios. Modern variations, with fillings such as Nutella, are also consumed.^[8][9]

Tradition

Arab Muslims commonly serve it during the month of Ramadan.^[10] Arab Christians also eat it during some celebrations.^{[citation needed]} Due to its ubiquity in Muslim communities during Ramadan, some Christians also consume qatayif during the Muslim holy month alongside Muslims.^[11]

Preparation

Qatayef is the general name of the dessert as a whole and, more specifically, the batter. It is usually made out of flour, baking powder, water, yeast, and sometimes sugar. The result of the batter being poured onto a round hot plate appears similar to pancakes, except only one side is cooked, then stuffed and folded. To make Qatayef Satati (deep fried) The pastry is filled with either unsalted sweet cheese a mixture of any of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, raisins, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, rose extract, and cinnamon. It is then deep fried or, alternatively, baked and served with a hot sweet syrup or sometimes honey. The other way of serving qatayef is by filling it with whipped cream or qishta (قشطة), folding it halfway, and serving it with scented syrup without frying or baking. This way of serving is called assafiri qatayef (قطايف عصافيري).^[12]

See also

• Food portal

• List of Middle Eastern dishes
• Mandugwa, a similar Korean dessert
• Knafeh
• Stuffed dates