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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Haxhimakulle is a traditional Albanian sweet. It is a round or elongated sponge cake soaked in sweet syrup. Haxhimakulle is associated with the city of Shkodër.
Saç arası is a traditional Turkish dessert from the city of Konya prepared from extremely thin dough, cream filling, and nuts. This sweet spiral is drenched in sugar syrup after baking. It is always served fresh and hot.
Sütlaç is a traditional Turkish dessert prepared as a delicate creamy rice pudding. Its most famous version, called fırın sütlaç, is served in clay bowls and is further baked in the oven after cooking. Thanks to this, it acquires a typical dark skin with black blisters on the surface. The name itself literally translates to milk dish. Locals enjoy consuming it as a light finish to soothe the stomach after spicy meat dishes.
