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Atayif (katayef/kataief) and Ashta Recipe
Recipe Categories: Dessert
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These are beautiful shaped stuffed mini pancakes that are easy to make and wonderful to eat. The thick creamy custard embodies the orange water and rose water flavors and topped with the sweetness of the simple syrup. This dessert is easy to serve and can be made in advance. Batter 2 cups flour 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 2 cup milk 1 cup water 1 tsp yeast 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp sugar Ashta (custard) 2 cup whole milk 2 cup 2% or fat free milk 1 cup heavy cream 3 tbs sugar 1/2 cup corn starch mixed with 1/2 cup water 7 pieces white bread with crust removed 1 tbs rose water 1 tbs orange blossom water ground pistachio for topping Dede's Mediterranean simple syrup (atyr, see recipe) or honey for topping Directions Start with pancake batter, mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined, let sit for 20 minutes. To cook pancakes, heat a non-stick pan on medium-low heat, pour 1/4 cup batter or until 3 inches in diameter, cook until bubbles cover the pancake and it is no longer wet, about 30 seconds, make sure bottom is golden brown color, remove and place in a dish to cool, repeat until batter is gone. For custard pour whole milk, fat free milk, heavy cream, sugar and corn starch in a medium size pot and stir. Cut white bread into pieces and add to pot and stir. Mix until custard begins to thicken, add rose and organge water and stir until custard is very thick. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Set on counter top and let cool, stir every 15 minutes and after an hour cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool completely. To serve, pinch the pancakes together half way, fill a plastic bag or piping bag with custard and pipe into pancake pocket, top with ground pistachio and serve with simple syrup or honey. Make sure to refrigerate.

Atayif (katayef/kataief) and Ashta Recipe

Total Time:
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
Yield: 12-14
Level: Medium

Batter

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 cup milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp sugar

Ashta (custard)

  • 2 cup whole milk
  • 2 cup 2% or fat free milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tbs sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn starch mixed with 1/2 cup water
  • 7 pieces white bread with crust removed
  • 1 tbs Rose Water
  • 1 Tbs Orange Blossom water
  • ground pistachio for topping
  • DedeMed's Simple Syrup or honey for topping

Directions

Start with pancake batter, mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined, let sit for 20 minutes. To cook pancakes, heat a non-stick pan on medium-low heat, pour 1/4 cup batter or until 3 inches in diameter, cook until bubbles cover the pancake and it is no longer wet, about 30 seconds, make sure bottom is golden brown color, remove and place in a dish to cool, repeat until batter is gone.
For custard pour whole milk, fat free milk, heavy cream, sugar and corn starch in a medium size pot and stir. Cut white bread into pieces and add to pot and stir. Mix until custard begins to thicken, add rose and organge water and stir until custard is very thick. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Set on counter top and let cool, stir every 15 minutes and after an hour cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
To serve, pinch the pancakes together half way, fill a plastic bag or piping bag with custard and pipe into pancake pocket, top with ground pistachio and serve with simple syrup or honey. Make sure to refrigerate.
Atayif (katayef/kataief) and Ashta Recipe
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Batter

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 cup milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp yeast
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp sugar

Ashta (custard)

  • 2 cup whole milk
  • 2 cup 2% or fat free milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tbs sugar
  • 1/2 cup corn starch mixed with 1/2 cup water
  • 7 pieces white bread with crust removed
  • 1 tbs Rose Water
  • 1 Tbs Orange Blossom water
  • ground pistachio for topping
  • DedeMed's Simple Syrup or honey for topping

Directions

Start with pancake batter, mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined, let sit for 20 minutes. To cook pancakes, heat a non-stick pan on medium-low heat, pour 1/4 cup batter or until 3 inches in diameter, cook until bubbles cover the pancake and it is no longer wet, about 30 seconds, make sure bottom is golden brown color, remove and place in a dish to cool, repeat until batter is gone.
For custard pour whole milk, fat free milk, heavy cream, sugar and corn starch in a medium size pot and stir. Cut white bread into pieces and add to pot and stir. Mix until custard begins to thicken, add rose and organge water and stir until custard is very thick. Remove from heat and pour into a bowl. Set on counter top and let cool, stir every 15 minutes and after an hour cover with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool completely.
To serve, pinch the pancakes together half way, fill a plastic bag or piping bag with custard and pipe into pancake pocket, top with ground pistachio and serve with simple syrup or honey. Make sure to refrigerate.


These are beautiful shaped stuffed mini pancakes that are easy to make and wonderful to eat. The thick creamy custard embodies the orange water and rose water flavors and topped with the sweetness of the simple syrup. This dessert is easy to serve and can be made in advance.
if they are to thick, you should have added a bit of water or milk to thin it out a little. You should always try one or 2 first to test the batter. Sometimes it needs more liquid depending on how packed the flour is when you measure it.
By: dedemed
Tried per written instructions....did not come out at all - pancakes were too dense, should I have used warm water/milk? Not enough yeast?
By: vwmashni
very interesting, your filling is like a canoli
By: dedemed
There are many ways of making this. I actually have another way for you to make it. :) (This is how people in Syria make it) For the pancake mixture, add flour, yeast, and milk. You need to let it set for specific time depending on how much flour and milk you put. 2 cups=1 hour 3 cups= 1 hour and a half. To make the stuffing, add ricotta cheese, sugar, and orange blossom water. Mix well. The Syrup: 1 cup water 2 cups of sugar, a very small amount of lemon juice, and orange blossom water
By: zackeria345
It looks so delicious nice
By: ywassouf
thank you for your support. And yes, I do try to make the recipes so that EVERYONE can make them and that no really special gadgets are needed :)
By: dedemed
I have been searching for a good website for Mediterranean cuisine website or something and today I found you. I loved the way u r explaining how to make it, the different versions that can be done with a particular recipe. Also, Love ur down-to-earth approach. All of us here would agree that we know u can afford piping bags In fact people to pipe things for you/ or a stand mixer but u r humble and letting ppl know its the will not expensive gadgets that they need .
By: Shikha Grover
no you do not, the sugar will activate the yeast, just use luke warm water :)
By: dedemed
Hi Do you need to use warm water in the batter to help the yeast become effective?
By: essgeef
sorry I have never made it with corn flour.
By: dedemed
Hi, to use corn flour instead of bread, how many cups should i add??! Thank you!!
By: pandappIe
the coconut butter sounds fantastic, great idea! Please post a picture on my facebook page and check out other Lebanese recipes at DedeMed.com
By: dedemed
correct, you can stuff them with cheese or nuts :)
By: dedemed
Prepared them today, using your recipe and they are just great. A few days ago we ate atayef for the first time in a Lebanese restaurant and we thought they are complicated to do, but it's not! We stuffed them with a walnut/pistachio mix, closed them completely and fried them in coconut butter, Yummy! Thanks for sharing this helpful video!
By: kir2000
thats al asfor qutoyef are closed all around and filled with cheese or smashed joz
By: rahafhashash12
I'm not sure but every where I have been we call both the open and closed one atayef
By: dedemed
you can use either one but the bread recipe has a smoother consistency.
By: dedemed
i thought QATAIEYF was the ones that were closed all around?? my family call these thim al asfoor (the mouth of the bird)... or is that something different?
By: Beeya A
I saw a recipe using semolina as a thickening agent in the ashta. which taste do u prefer, the bread or the semolina?
By: dildildidldil
very interesting :)
By: dedemed
This gave me an idea for my son's breakfast, pancakes stuffed with eggs and beef sausage...
By: BigJyeTV
the bread helps to thicken and add some texture. I use water b/c that is a cooking school rule, always dissolve corn starch in a bit of water, it will not dilute the milk, you are only adding a little bit of water.
By: dedemed
I would dissolve the starch in the milk rather than adding more water it defeats the purpose of adding the cream and if the bread dissolves are you using the bread to absorb the water from the starch? can you shed some light? Thanks
By: Henry5558
thanks, coming soon :)
By: dedemed
Yalla Dede ... its time for HD already lol.  Ur doing great!
By: gamo1104
"Dede Med, ...queen of the mashed chickpea
spread called hummus."

Tamara Audi
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

 

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