Desserts from the Middle East
Living in the UK, we get ice creams, cakes and tarts at every single grocery store. But sometimes, your sweet tooth wants a change.
Why don’t you take your sweet tooth on a trip across the Middle East?
No. You won’t have to book expensive flight tickets. Just order desserts from Bakkali.
Here is a list of our 5 favourite desserts.
(For a healthy option, you should check out number 5).
1. Kunafa
It consists of thin noodle-like pastry threads, typically made from semolina flour. These threads are layered with a creamy filling, often a mixture of sweetened cheese, and usually nuts or syrup for added flavour. The pastry is baked until golden and crisp, then drenched in a sugary syrup infused with floral essences like rose or orange blossom water, imparting a fragrant aroma. Served warm, Kunafa offers a delightful contrast of textures between its crunchy exterior and soft, gooey interior, making it a beloved treat across the region.
Fun fact: A member of Bakkali’s team replaced cakes with Kunafa to cut on his birthday!
2. Maamoul
It is made from a delicate blend of semolina or flour, butter or shortening, and sugar, the dough is shaped into small cookies or moulds. These are then filled with a sweet mixture of dates, nuts like pistachios or walnuts, or a combination of both. The filled dough is carefully moulded and baked until golden. Once cooled, Maamoul is dusted with powdered sugar, lending a subtle sweetness. With its rich, nutty filling and buttery, crumbly texture, Maamoul will put a smile on your sweet tooth.
3. Baklava
It is renowned for its layers of flaky phyllo dough, butter, and nuts, usually walnuts, pistachios, or almonds. Each layer of dough is brushed with melted butter, creating a crisp, golden exterior upon baking. Between the layers, a spiced mixture of nuts, sugar, and sometimes cinnamon or cloves adds depth of flavor. Once baked, the sweet confection is drenched in a syrup, often infused with honey, rose water, or orange blossom water, imbuing Baklava with a delightful sweetness and aromatic essence. Its crunchy, nutty texture makes Baklava an irresistible treat.
You can find multiple shops selling Baklava on Edgware Road serving Kunafas. Or you remove the commute time and order it online on Bakkali!
It’s a confection with a history spanning centuries and enjoyed by Ottoman rulers. It consists of gelatinous cubes made from sugar, starch, and water, flavoured with various ingredients like rosewater, lemon, or pistachio. Often dusted with powdered sugar or coated in coconut flakes, these soft candies offer a delicate balance of sweetness and fragrance. Turkish Delight is cherished for its unique texture, which is both chewy and slightly firm. Enjoyed as a standalone treat or paired with tea, it remains a symbol of hospitality and indulgence in Turkish culture.
5. Dates
Known as nature's caramel, they are a nutritious dessert. So, dates please both your sweet tooth and your doctor.
With a rich, caramel-like flavour and soft, chewy texture, they offer a natural sweetness unparalleled in the fruit world. Often stuffed with nuts like almonds or walnuts, or coated in chocolate or coconut for added indulgence, dates present a versatile canvas for culinary creativity. Their dense, sticky consistency makes them perfect for binding ingredients in desserts like energy bars or cakes. Rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals, dates offer guilt-free indulgence, satisfying sweet cravings while providing a wholesome energy boost. They stand as a testament to nature's sweet bounty.
With Bakkali, you can have all these desserts delivered directly to your London home!
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