What you need to know:
- Gulf News is going on an ice cream trail this Ramadan.
- Our fifth pick of the month is the Kunafa Sundae.
- Be prepared for our list of 29 ice creams for 29 days.
- Break your fast and enjoy the summer months with these sweet and cold treats.
Our fifth pick for the month is a twist between the classic ice cream sundae and a popular Arabic dessert. We bring you the Kunafa Sundae.
#5 Kunafa ice cream Sundae
The traditional crispy, semolina-pastry dessert, Kunafa, served with ice cream, is definitely something different to try this Ramadan.
History
Kunafa is a traditional Arabic dessert that originated in the Middle East. It is a favourite among the residents in the region. Traditionally, the warm, soft and creamy Levantine dessert is made with thin noodle-like semolina dough, layered with cheese and soaked in sweet syrup. It is garnished with cream or nuts depending on the region. In Arabic, “kanafeh” can refer to the entire dish or the string pastry alone.
The ice cream sundae on the other hand, originated in the US and consists of one or more scoops of ice cream, garnished with syrup or sauce and toppings. According to online reports, many cities in the US claim to be the birthplace of the ice cream sundae, the earliest claim was by Two Rivers, Wisconsin, in 1881.
Where do you find the Kunafa Sunday?
While many restaurants add a scoop of ice cream over traditional dessert, at the London Dairy Bistro, the ice cream Sundae is a combination of a double scoop of vanilla flavoured Kulfi ice cream, which is topped with a layer of roasted semolina used for the kunafa. It is garnished with pistachio sauce and roasted pistachios.
The roasted nuts and roasted kunafa help cope with the sweetness of the ice cream and one portion seems to be more than enough for two people to share. It also adds a crunch to the dish.
Channel Tourish, marketing manager at the London Dairy Bistro said: “We created this unique dessert because we wanted to blend Middle Eastern culture with a concept from the West. With the choice of ice cream, dried fruits and kunafa it suddenly appeals to more than one nationality. The kunafa is roasted and then vacuum-packed. All our ingredients are fresh and sourced locally.”
Additionally, the Kunafa Sundae is also found at Baskin Robbins. The ice cream shop introduced the dessert for the month of Ramadan. Hot kunafa is served with butterscotch sauce, but according to the Baskin-Robbins' dessert cafe manager, Aruna Amarasinghe, customers can pick any sauce they like.
He said: "The dessert is served with one or two scoops of ice cream: Pralines and cream and pistachio-almond. After the ice cream is placed on top of the kunafa, it is again drizzled with the customer's chouce of sauce. The options are hot fudge sauce and butterscotch. It is served with whipped cream, a cherry and crushed almonds."
Information:
Price: Dh35 at London Dairy Bistro, Shaikh Zayed Road Dubai and Dh19 (starting) at Baskin-Robbins dessert cafe, Shaikh Zayed Road)
Availability: The dish is available in all London Dairy stores in the UAE. Additionally, Kunafa flavoured ice cream is available at Jelly Belly in La Mer Dubai for a limited time. And, if just looking for the traditional Kunafa, we have a list for you.
Have you tried this? Tell us your experience. And watch this space for the next 28 picks for Ramadan. Have your own favourites? Tell us on readers@gulfnews.com.
