Um Ali Recipe

"Um Ali is an Egyptian (Middle Eastern) dessert that combines the creaminess of bread pudding with the cinnamon nut stuffing of Baklava. It is a wonderful treat warm out of the oven or cold out of the fridge. Each chef has her/his own signature ingredient to slightly alter the flavors: Cardamom, cinnamon, rose water, raisins, coconut, or cashews to name a few. But it's all good - every single time. No buffet would be complete without Um Ali on the dessert table. The contrast between the creamy bread pudding and the crunchy nuts, the mild sweet milk and cream versus the spicy tone of the cinnamon and cardamom makes this Um Ali dessert irresistible. The nut mix you put into the Um Ali is entirely up to your taste. You can use one, some or all the nuts listed in the recipe. You can also combine puff pastry with toasted Phylo sheets, or use Phylo alone, or even croissants for your base. You can use 6-8 (1 cup) ramekins or a large oval glass baking dish to make this."

Step by Step Method

Step 1

If using puff pastry, allow pastry to thaw to room temperature ( 30 minutes), then bake at 400 degrees F until brown and puffy, 10-12 minutes.

Step 2

Crush baked puff pastry, or break croissants into 1 inch pieces, and place in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 3

Add vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom to milk, and mix well. Set aside.

Step 4

Place mixed nuts on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven, at 350 degrees F, until lightly golden.

Step 5

Place heavy cream and powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer or an electric mixer, beat cream on high speed for 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Set aside.

Step 6

Forty minutes before serving, fill ramekins half way with crushed pastry or pieces of croissant.

Step 7

Top with a layer of mixed nuts.

Step 8

Top with a smaller amount of crushed pastry or pieces of croissant, and pour milk over pastry to cover completely.

Step 9

Cover top with cream, and dust with powdered sugar.

Step 10

Place ramekins on a large baking sheet, and place in a preheated 350 degree F oven, for 23 minutes, or until milk is bubbling and face is a light golden color.