Atayef Pancakes a Middle Eastern favourite
Although I have never really consciously noticed that Ramadan ripples through Sydney at this time of year, this year it seems to have come to me. Over the years I have had small brushes with it through kitchen hands, that normally devour several meals during a double shift, and suddenly shyly refuse food and arrive at work with dark circles. Many Muslims fast during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan. It is common to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before sunrise and an evening meal (iftar) after sunset.
Last week I was in my local ( Rockdale) Lebanese pastry shop, Ibrahim Pastry buying baklava’s for a friend, and that’s when Ramadan found me. While there I also picked up a couple of other favourite things. The first a pack of dried apricot sheets, I love these, they’re made from apricot, glucose and olive oil. I haven’t bought them for years but these too, are a popular ingredient at Ramadan. I will make a beautiful dessert out of this next month.
The other item, are these soft pancakes that I sometimes buy for Skater who likes to eat them with nutella or honey. When I showed them to a friend of mine that grew up in Egypt she clapped her hands with excitement and asked if I was going to make proper Atayef. She recalls eating Atayef during Ramadan. In many Islamic communities, these pancakes are very important during this time. Atayef are also known as Qatayef -are little pancakes that are stuffed with sweet nutty or cheese filling then deep fried to crispy goodness and served with syrup or honey. That was it for me. I went straight home to make my own.
I made my Atayef Pancakes, stuffing them with ricotta, dark chocolate and orange zest then served them with toasted pistachios and an orange syrup. I shallow fried them to crispy and I can tell you they are bloody amazing. This is what the pancakes look like before they are turned into this dessert. They are made in two sizes, the tiny picklet size and the larger saucer size both are $5.50.
I’ve also been buying lots of dates because they are cheap at the moment. I had no idea that the cheapness of dates seemed to coincide with the Ramadan festival till it was pointed out to me. Apparently they are a traditional fruit that is used to break the fast. This is often the first thing that is eaten after a full day of fasting. Dates are both nutritious and filling and in a hot country, a very welcome snack to get you going. I’ve bought kilos of them this month and made lots of recipes with dates that I hope you are going to love.
I bought my pancakes but if you want to make them there is a link here
Atayef Pancakes Ricotta Dark Chocolate and Orange
Ingredients
A 5-6 cm deep frypan for shallow frying
- 6 whole pancakes or Atayef
- 200 gram ricotta
- 25 gram dark chocolate, roughly chopped
- 20 gram castor sugar
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 125 ml cream, heavy or thickened
- 500 ml vegetable or plain oil for frying
Orange Syrup
- 125 ml fresh squeezed orange juice
- 100 gram caster sugar
- 30 gram pistachios chopped
Instructions
- Put the orange juice and the sugar into a small pot and simmer for several minutes till the sugar is melted and the syrup has reduced by a third.
- Heat the fry pan and add the pistachios and toss for 2 minutes until the nuts are toasted and lightly coloured. Cool
- Put the zest, ricotta, sugar and cream into a food processor and mix till combined. Put into a bowl and mix in the chopped chocolate.
- Put a heaped spoon of ricotta into each pancake and seal by pressing the edges together well. Heat the oil in a frypan . ( this can be as shallow as you like). Fry on each side till crispy. Drain on paper.
- Serve with the orange syrup and orange segments
I’ve never heard of Atayef so thanks for filling in that gap in my knowledge. Although my waistline may not thank you 😉
I love those dishes. I will have to keep an eye out for them.
this was my year for becoming aware of how much ramadan is about charity so I am pleased to learn more here – interesting to hear about dates being cheap at ramadan – and those crepes look superb
Atayef is a very popular dish here in Bahrain and your looks simply delicious. I am very familiar with Ramadan as members of my family fast and it is always broken by first eating dates. 🙂
Hi Moya, Thanks for letting me know that it’s so exciting to know you are in Bahrain and reading about Atayef here!
WhileI haven’t seen apricot paste here in Mexico, we do have lovely guava and quince versions. I can almost taste these…with any variation!
Your apricot paste made me squeal as brought back wonderful memories of our time in the Middles East, especially Egypt!
Your Atayef looks delicious and wish I had some with my coffee!
Thanks for sharing your kitchen this month too!
What a beautiful recipe. And those dishes are simply divine.
Thank you Ania
Love the look of the atayef, a new dish to me. I’ll try them soon. There are always fresh dates in my fruitbowl, they’re the perfect pick me up so I understand them being eaten to break the Ramadan fast
Thanks sandra it was mighty delicious .
Oh my Tania those Atayef look amazing, and the flavours sound divine. Such a lovely combination. Thank you for the interesting information about Ramadan. I did not know dates were popular at this time too. Cheers, Kirsty xx
Hi Kirsty, thanks for coming by and commenting
What a lovely, lovely post. I like the way you talk about Ramadan coming to you. I have become more conscious of it this year also as I start to follow more people from the Middle Eastern on social media. I love those bowls – they look so delicate. I have non-existent lighting in my kitchen which is why all of my photos are taken outside in the garden on weekends. It takes some planning I can tell you. I hope to have more light after our renovation. After all, you can’t take photos in the garden if it’s raining!
Thanks for the tour.
Thanks for those lovely words Fiona. Sometimes things just do seem to come to us don’t they?
I was in Oman during Ramadan a couple of years ago and they told us that dates were very common for that period. I guess all of that concentrated sugar certainly goes a long way! 🙂
Yes I remember your trip to Oman. How I would live to go there. I can imagine how great a date must taste after a whole day of fasting
I have just learned so much from your post! Those pancakes look amazing and I hadn’t made the connection between the price of dates and ramadan either. Thanks so much for the peek into your kitchen.
I was served atayef years ago when I lived in Tennessee of all places. I fell in love!
New York and Boston? You lucky thing! I have rellies in both places if you need anything while you’re there. 🙂
Mm pancakes. And pancakes with chocolate even more mmmmm. Lucky you going to New York! Wishing you a wonderful trip. Google “eating with Ziggy” for a great New York food blog.
I’ve often seen atayef and wondered about how locals eat them. Definitely inspired to grab a bag the next time I see them!
Look as good if not better than the originals!!!
I’ve heard of these little pancakes & they look similar to those served on the breakfast table in Morocco. They are delicious.
I can’t help thinking that those who observe Ramadan here in Australia are so much better off than those in the Northern hemisphere. At least it’s winter here and the days are cool and much shorter.
Yes thats so true Amanda
Oh, these sound so delicious! I’d never heard of atayef but you have convinced me now that I must try it.
Wow, I have not heard of Atayef… must investigate this recipe further, love. Like you, I am currently overseas! Safe travels xxx
The photo alone has me reaching for a fork; atayef look deliciously tempting!
Yum! I want your pancakes. 🙂