9 December, 2020
Estimated Reading Time : 1 minute, 17 seconds
What would our life be without desserts? Those sweet dishes that brighten our soul are present in all cultures around the world but adapted to the ingredients typical of each country.
In the Middle East, honey plays a fundamental role in desserts, along with walnuts and other nuts, making them very healthy and delicious, suitable for almost all tastes.
Below, we present the typical Arab desserts that you must try at least once:
- Arab Sweets
Arab sweets closely resemble Latin American milk-based confections, but unlike these, Arab sweets are sweetened with caramel and dates and flavored with anise.
- Baklava
Baklava is a more elaborate dessert. The main ingredient is thin layers of phyllo dough alternated with crushed nuts and honey.
- Turkish Delights
Turkish delights are similar to gummy candies but are prepared with syrup and coated with a thin layer of powdered sugar. These are the sweets Edmund ate in The Chronicles of Narnia when he met the White Witch.
- Kunafa
This dessert is similar to cheesecake and is served during family and religious celebrations in Arab countries. It is prepared by wrapping slices of fresh cheese in phyllo leaves and then drenching them in syrup or honey.
- Om Ali
Dessert lovers will be fascinated by Om Ali, which is made with puff pastry, condensed milk, cream, nuts, grated coconut, and raisins. It is traditionally served in a large round dish.
- Maamoul
These are small balls made with wheat flour and semolina, filled with creamy fillings such as dates, figs, almonds, chopped nuts, or pistachios. Each portion is dusted with powdered sugar.
In the Middle East, tea is a common beverage, so it is no surprise that these desserts are often enjoyed with a hot cup of tea.
