Sweets
Desserts, cakes, pies, filled croissants, Italian ice cream, French macaroons, candies ... Just everything that sweetens our lives. One of my favourite sweets are the cheesecakes.
Lisnato: Puff Pastry Baked Goods
In Macedonian bakeries, lisnato is the catch-all name for anything made of puff pastry - the word simply means "leafed" and every baker picks the filling, from cheese and ham to sour cherries. Bakeries all across the Balkans and further into Europe bake the same dough.
Padobranci: Walnut Sweets With Cream Known Across the Former Yugoslavia
Padobranci are a sweet a Parisian pastry chef would fault for its cracked surface - here, that's exactly the point. Two crisp meringue-like halves made of egg whites, sugar, and ground walnuts dry slowly in a gentle oven, then get glued together with a thick layer of cream. It's not a Macedonian invention: the same treat, under the same name, is baked in Serbia and Croatia too - a homemade sweet of the whole former Yugoslavia.
Oreovki: Balkan Walnut Sweets
Oreovki, also known as orasnici, are a sweet made of nothing but walnuts, eggs, and sugar - don't go looking for flour or butter in them. Little horseshoes of ground walnut mixture are coated in crushed walnuts and slowly dried, giving them a crisp coating and a soft center. The whole former Yugoslavia and Bulgaria know them too - it's not a Macedonian invention.
Znoud El Sit: Iraqi National Dessert
Znoud el sit is a traditional Levantine dessert. It is a fried roll of thin phyllo dough filled with a rich milk cream called ashta. The sweet is particularly popular in Iraq, where it is considered a national dessert.
Daheen: Iraqi Sweet from the City of Najaf
Daheen is a traditional, high-calorie sweet originating from the southern Iraqi city of Najaf. Its name refers to the Arabic term for fat. The dessert has a specific consistency; the texture resembles dense fondant or semi-solid caramel. A mixture of wheat flour, sugar, milk, and a significant amount of clarified butter is used for preparation. Important ingredients include date syrup and shredded coconut.
Kaster: Iraqi Pudding
Kaster is an immensely popular Iraqi milk dessert. It is a local aromatic variation on classic instant pudding. Its base consists of British custard powder mixed with milk and sugar; Iraqis elevated this mixture by adding cardamom and rose water. It is always served chilled, often decorated with a layer of jelly or crunchy nuts.
Qurs Simsim: Traditional Middle Eastern Sesame Cookie
Qurs simsim is a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cookie. It is characterized by a crumbly texture and a rich layer of sesame seeds. The dough base consists of flour, sugar, and fat; specific spices add uniqueness. The citrus aroma of cardamom is dominant, complemented by anise and fennel.
Mann Al-Sama: Traditional Iraqi Nougat
Mann al-sama is a traditional Iraqi confection resembling a firm chewy nougat. It is richly filled with nuts and scented with cardamom. The name translates to manna from heaven, referring to the original key ingredient, which is a natural resin collected in mountainous regions. Its composition is very similar to Iranian gaz. The confection is durable and does not melt in the hot Iraqi climate.
Trileçe: Sponge Dessert with Balkan Roots
Trileçe is a light sponge dessert made from a fluffy sponge soaked in a mixture of three types of milk: cow's milk, condensed milk, and cream. After absorbing the milk mixture, the dessert becomes exceptionally juicy. It is served chilled, often topped with caramel or other syrups. In Albania, the Balkans, and Turkey, trileçe has become an integral part of local cuisine.
Tespixhe: Traditional Balkan Dessert
Tespixhe is a traditional Balkan dessert made from dough with nuts, soaked in sweet syrup. The dough is first cooked and only then baked. For many Albanians, tespixhe is a taste of home.