Description
Indulge in the perfect fusion of creamy, nutty, and crispy textures with this Pistachio Kunafa Ice Cream Cake. Featuring a rich eshta ice cream base infused with orange blossom and rose water, a crispy kunafa topping, and caramelized pistachios, this dessert is a Middle Eastern-inspired masterpiece that will steal the show at any gathering.
Ingredients
-
For the Caramelized Pistachios:
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) water
- 1/2 cup (57g) shelled pistachios
- A pinch of ground cinnamon
-
For the Scented Eshta Ice Cream:
- 1 cup (227g) fresh eshta (Arabic clotted cream)
- 1 (397g) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon orange blossom water (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon rose water (adjust to taste)
- 2 cups (473ml) heavy whipping cream, very cold
- 1/3 cup (85g) pistachio butter
-
For the Pistachio Kunafa Topping:
- 125g kunafa (kadaif/kataifi) dough, thawed if frozen
- 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon (62g) unsalted butter, melted
- 5 tablespoons (72g) powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup (70g) finely ground pistachios
- 3 tablespoons sliced or chopped pistachios (for garnish)
Instructions
-
Prepare the Caramelized Pistachios:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar and water, stirring gently until the sugar dissolves and the mixture simmers.
- Add the shelled pistachios and a pinch of cinnamon, stirring constantly until the sugar turns golden brown and coats the pistachios.
- Transfer to a parchment-lined tray to cool. Once hardened, roughly chop and set aside.
-
Make the Scented Eshta Ice Cream:
- In a large bowl, whisk together eshta, sweetened condensed milk, orange blossom water, and rose water until smooth. Adjust the floral waters to taste.
- In a separate chilled bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the eshta mixture without deflating the air.
- Fold in the pistachio butter to enhance the nutty flavor.
- Pour the mixture into a loaf pan or cake tin, smooth the surface, and freeze for at least 6 hours or until firm.
-
Prepare the Pistachio Kunafa Topping:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Shred the kunafa dough into fine strands.
- Toss the shredded kunafa in a large bowl with melted butter, powdered sugar, and ground pistachios until evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and crispy. Let cool completely.
-
Assemble the Ice Cream Cake:
- Remove the ice cream from the freezer.
- Spread the cooled, crispy kunafa topping evenly over the ice cream, pressing gently to adhere.
- Garnish with caramelized pistachios and additional sliced pistachios for extra crunch and decoration.
- Return the cake to the freezer for another 1-2 hours to firm up.
-
Serve:
- Before serving, let the cake sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes to soften slightly.
- Slice and serve with a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of powdered sugar, if desired.
Notes
- Use high-quality pistachios and floral waters for authentic flavors.
- If eshta is unavailable, substitute with mascarpone cheese or a mixture of cream cheese and heavy cream.
- Adjust sweetness by reducing the condensed milk slightly if preferred.
- The cake can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the freezer until ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Method: No-Bake + Oven
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern