Crema Kataifi

Both Greece and Turkey claim this pastry. Our family go nuts over this sweet custard pie. The recipe isn’t difficult but it has a few steps.

Ingredients (serves 12)

FOR PASTRY
375g Kataifi Pastry
3/4 cup Unsalted Butter
FOR SYRUP
2 cups Castor Sugar
1 1/2 cups Water
1 strip Lemon Rind
1 stick Cinnamon
3 tsp Lemon Juice
FOR CUSTARD
1 litre Milk
3/4 cup Cornflour
4 Eggs beaten
1/2 cup Castor Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Essence
Pinch Salt
TO GARNISH
400ml Cream
250g Roasted Chopped Almonds
2 tbsp Cinnamon Sugar

Method

FOR PASTRY: Preheat oven to 190C. Gently separate the kataifi pastry strands with your fingers then spread evenly over base of a deep greased 20 x 28cm oven dish. Melt the butter & drizzle it over pastry. Bake until the pastry is golden brown & crisp, remove & cool.
FOR SYRUP: Dissolve the sugar in the water over medium heat, add the rind & cinnamon stick & bring to boil. Add the juice & boil over medium heat for 15mins. Strain hot syrup over the pastry.
FOR CUSTARD: Combine the milk & cornflour in a pot & whisk in the eggs, sugar & salt. Place over medium heat & stir constantly until it's thick & bubbling, then remove from the heat, stir in vanilla essence & pour over the pastry. Allow to cool then place into fridge to set.
GARNISH: Whip the cream & spread over the custard. Sprinkle over the almonds & dust with cinnamon sugar.

Notes

Kataifi is a finely shredded filo pastry which is found in fridge section of Greek or Middle Eastern grocery shops.

97 Comments

- - lepumpkinhead said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    11:05 am
Wow, this sounds like a beautiful dessert, I have to find a greek or middle eastern shop near me but I am definitely trying this!

- - Meghannn said
  - 25 Jun 2015
    9:03 am
Says serves 12 but I’m sure I could eat it in one go!

- - EllenG89 said
  - 20 Jun 2015
    9:38 am
this is something I have never tried before! I have added it to my dessert list! It looks delicious

- - Mum of 5 darlings :) said
  - 16 Jun 2015
    7:52 pm
A great dessert !!

- - robyn_smithwick said
  - 11 Jun 2015
    6:45 pm
I will make this if I can get hold of some of this unusual pastry!

- - mle00 said
  - 30 May 2015
    11:04 pm
That looks delicious, in fact at this time of night it looks like a dream!

- - robyn_smithwick said
  - 30 May 2015
    9:16 pm
Where do you get kataifi pastry or do you have to make it yourself?
- memo replied
  
  29 Jun 2015 , 6:55 pm
  yes, where do you buy the pastry or can you substitute?
- - joanne said
  - 26 May 2015
    4:57 pm
yum thanks for sharing

- - joanne said
  - 16 May 2015
    10:02 am
yummo this looks awesome I think this is what my dads wife used to make. thanks

- - am1979amanda said
  - 01 May 2015
    10:28 pm
Yummy I want to eat this looks great

- - linaianna said
  - 25 Apr 2015
    6:28 pm
This is one of my favourite deserts thanks for sharing

- - robyn_smithwick said
  - 06 Apr 2015
    7:16 pm
This looks so nice! Lemon cream custard pie ! Out of this world! Where do you get the Kataifi pastry? Is it a bit like filo pastry or puff pastry?

- - mom108638 said
  - 27 Mar 2015
    7:10 pm
this looks fantastic, the layers are divine. thank you for sharing

- - Kath said
  - 16 Mar 2015
    5:18 pm
Oh yum, I can almost taste it just looking at the picture! 🙂

- - bubble6369 said
  - 08 Mar 2015
    2:33 am
cannot wait to try this out! a little bit fancy vanilla slice!

- - mom113055 said
  - 05 Mar 2015
    5:01 pm
so yummy

- - meljware said
  - 16 Feb 2015
    2:35 pm
Looks delicious! So tasty. Thanks for sharing !

- - mom107723 said
  - 15 Feb 2015
    10:59 am
I have never heard of this Crema Kataifi but it looks absolutely mouth watering, must say thankyou for this little gem.

- - mom90758 said
  - 09 Feb 2015
    1:31 pm
Kataifi.. never heard of it. It’s not normal filo pastry thus? I will see if I can find it.

- - mel_phillips said
  - 05 Feb 2015
    7:15 pm
Looks like it could melt in your mouth!! Yum!!