Kunafa,
Knafeh, Kunefe. Regardless of how it’s pronounced, it is a delicious Middle Eastern
dessert made with vermicelli-like dough soaked in sugar syrup, layered with soft
cheese, drizzled with rosewater and topped with pistachio. Sounds good
doesn't it?
Like a
vermicelli, it has a lengthy history, which is as old as the conflict between
Israel and Palestine. It originated from Nablus (30 miles from Jerusalem), cooked
with a local white cheese called ‘Jibneh Nabulsi’. The tension and conflict is because Israel has claimed Kunafa as its
own, without crediting Palestine for its invention 😐.
Despite its tendency to spark conflict, Kunafa is also seen as a symbol of goodwill after a conflict has been resolved, and is prepared to help cope with grief after someone may have died, and also during happier times when someone achieves an important milestone.
Different spellings of the word are used in different countries and include knafeh, konafa, kunefe, kenafe, knefeh, and kunafa, the root word being ‘kanaf’, which means to shelter or protect in Arabic. It’s likely that this word was chosen to refer to the two layers of dough that hold cheese between them.
In the last few years, this delicacy has been subject to experimentation. A way to modernize it, or add a little more flavor to the cheese with mango, Nutella, custard, crème Brule and even red velvet 😁. This attempt to add a modern twist is subject to a lot of debate. Some are welcoming to this craze, while others think it’s a betrayal to the famous dish.
In spite of
the conflicted reports on how and when it originated, one thing is certain;
it’s not difficult to find Kunafa in one form or the other at an Arab household
during Ramadan or restaurant that serves this delicacy. So make sure to seize
the opportunity of grabbing a piece when visiting the Arab world. Just remember that this isn’t a mere slice
of dessert; it’s a slice of history and heritage!!