Shredded Phyllo Dessert (Tel Kadayıf)

Tel Kadayıf is a popular Turkish dessert soaked in sweet syrup. Yesterday I watched my mom prepare it step by step and came to realize how simple it is to make Kadayıf. Simple and delicious to be precise like all the rest of the desserts made with syrup. And here goes the recipe which is originally my grandmother’s.  

Ingredients:

¾ lb shredded kadayıf dough

2 sticks of butter

2 cups of walnut, slightly crushed

For the syrup:

3 cups of sugar

2 cups of water

1 cup of cold milk

Steps: 

1. Heat sugar and water in a pan. Once it boils, continue boiling for about 5 minutes in low heat. Then put it aside to cool.

2. Melt butter in a small pan. Put it aside to cool as well.

 3. Place the shredded kadayıf dough on a tray. Separate the wires with your hands until you make sure non sticks together.   

 4. Pour the cooled butter over the kadayıf dough and mix evenly using your hands. Repeat the process of separating the wires.

 

5. Grease a large Pyrex dish and place half of the kadayıf dough in a thin layer. Place the crushed walnuts over it evenly, and the rest of the kadayıf dough over the walnut layer. Press on it with your palms to keep it in shape.

 

6. Place the Pyrex dish on the third rack of a 390 F preheated oven. Bake for 20 minutes until the top takes a light golden brown color.  

 

7. Take the kadayıf out from the oven and turn it upside down on the Pyrex dish because it's time to bake the other side. (my mom used the help of a tray to turn it over) Put it back to oven to bake for 10 minutes more until the other side takes a golden brown color as well.

 

8. When it's done, add the cold milk to the syrup. Then cut the kadayıf to squares and pour the syrup evenly on the still hot kadayıf.

9. Let it absorb all the syrup for at least 3-4 hours before serving.