This authentic dessert is prepared with just a few ingredients, nothing fancy, light, delicious and definitely a “must try”. It only requires water, sugar, butter, few drops of lemon, walnuts and shredded filo (kadayıf in Turkish). I understand that it might be difficult in some areas to find shredded filo, but I read that it is possible to order online too.
Prepare the syrup first.
Then disentangle the filo with your hands.
If you have a cupcake tray it will be easier. Butter, then put filo halfway into each hole. Press, then add chopped walnuts. Cover with filo and press. Ready for the oven.
If you do not have such a tray you can use tea or Turkish coffee espresso cups. Fill such a cup the way you are filling the muffin tray. Then flip over on to a standard oven tray. You should either use an oven paper or spread some liquid oil before flipping over the filo muffins, so they do not stick on the tray.
Cook until the filo turns golden and crispy. Let cool for 1-2 minutes. and gently take out each muffin using a spoon. Then pour the syrup on each filo muffin gently, try not to ruin the shape.
Wait about half an hour to let the muffins soak the sugar. Garnish with ground pistachio, coated cream or vanilla ice cream.
Shredded Filo Muffins / Kadayıf
Ingredients
- 250 grams shredded filo – kadayıf
- 100+10 grams butter
- 100 grams walnuts coarsley chopped
- 300 grams sugar
- 360 millilitres water
- ¼ lemon’s juice
- 1 teaspoon ground pistachio to garnish
Instructions
Syrup
- Put 300 grams sugar and 360 millilitres water into a pot. Bring to boil over medium heat while mixing occasionally. When the water starts to boil, reduce heat to simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Add ¼ of a lemon's juice, bring to boil for one last time. Close the heat, set aside.
Buns
- Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat.
- If possible use a muffin/bun tray. Using an egg brush spread melted butter into each hole.
- Airate and separate the filo shreds if stuck to each other. Place the shredded filo into a bowl and pour the remaining melted butter on top. Mix well with your hands or two forks without squeezing and until all the butter is well combined with all the filo.
- Fill each muffin/bun tray hole half way with shredded filo. Press down firmly with the help of the back of a glass or similar.
- Sprinkle coarsely chopped walnuts on the filo as the next layer.
- Cover the top with shreded filo again. Press down again with the back of a glass or similar.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 170° Celsius until golden and crispy. Should take about 30-40 minutes.
- When you take out the muffin/bun tray out of the oven. Wait for a minute. Then gently take out each bun using a spoon. Either using the same side or turning them upside down, transfer to a serving dish.
- The syrup should be at room temperature by now. Using a ladle pour syrup on top of each bun.
- Garnish with ground pistachio.
- Set aside for half an hour and serve while still warm or chilled.