Dubai Strawberry Kataifi Cups (Printable)

Middle Eastern-inspired cups featuring crisp kataifi nests, fresh strawberries, and smooth dark chocolate ganache.

# What You'll Need:

→ Kataifi Cups

01 - 7 oz kataifi pastry, thawed
02 - 2.8 oz unsalted butter, melted
03 - 2 tablespoons superfine sugar

→ Strawberry Filling

04 - 10.6 oz fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
06 - 2 tablespoons honey or rose syrup

→ Chocolate Ganache

07 - 3.5 oz dark chocolate, minimum 60% cocoa, chopped
08 - 2.7 fl oz heavy cream

→ Garnish

09 - 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios
10 - 1 teaspoon dried edible rose petals, optional
11 - Fresh mint leaves, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - Gently untangle kataifi pastry and pull into loose strands. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with superfine sugar, tossing gently to coat evenly.
03 - Press kataifi mixture into 6 muffin cups, shaping into nests. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool completely in tin before removing.
04 - Combine diced strawberries, lemon juice, and honey or rose syrup in a bowl. Mix well and let macerate for 10 minutes.
05 - Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan until just simmering. Pour over chopped chocolate, let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth and glossy. Cool slightly to thicken.
06 - Spoon generous layer of chocolate ganache into each kataifi cup. Top with strawberry mixture.
07 - Garnish with chopped pistachios, rose petals, and mint if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These feel fancy enough for guests but come together faster than you'd expect.
  • The contrast of crispy, buttery pastry against silky chocolate and fresh fruit is pure magic.
  • They're naturally vegetarian and can be assembled hours ahead, just filled right before serving.
02 -
  • Kataifi can dry out and become brittle if you handle it too roughly, so untangle it gently and work quickly once it's exposed to air.
  • The ganache needs time to cool and thicken slightly or it'll pool out of the cups, but if it gets too thick, a few seconds in a warm kitchen will soften it again.
03 -
  • Toast your pistachios lightly in a dry pan before chopping, which deepens their flavor and makes them taste less like an afterthought.
  • If you can't find edible rose petals, a tiny pinch of ground cardamom stirred into the ganache creates an equally authentic Middle Eastern note.
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