Qatayef is believed to be ofFatimid origin.[3] Some believe that qatayef are the creation of the Fatimid Dynasty, however, their history dates back to theAbbasid Caliphate, 750–1258 CE.[4][5] Qatayef was mentioned in a tenth century Arabic cookbook dating back to the Abbasid Caliphate by Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq calledKitab al-Ṭabīḫ (Arabic:كتاب الطبيخ,The Book of Dishes). The book was later translated byNawal Nasrallah under the nameAnnals of the Caliphs' Kitchens.[6] The traditional stuffing of Qatayef, as evident in a number of Medieval Arabic cookbooks, is crushed almond and sugar. In these recipes, once the pancake was stuffed, it would sometimes be fried in walnut oil or baked in the oven.[7]
Qatayef was traditionally prepared by street vendors as well as households inEgypt and theLevant. It is usually filled withakkawi cheese, crushed walnuts, as well as crushed pistachios. Modern variations, with fillings such asNutella, are also consumed.[8][9]
Arab Muslims commonly serve it during the month ofRamadan.[10]Arab Christians also eat it during some celebrations.[citation needed] Due to its ubiquity in Muslim communities during Ramadan, some Christians also consume qatayif during the Muslim holy month alongside Muslims.[11]
Outside the Arab world, qatayef are a Ramadan staple among Turkish Muslims, they are typically fried and eaten for iftar.[12][13][14][15]Yassi kadayif ("Flat qatayef") are patent by theTurkish Patent and Trademark Office and have a geographic indication for the region ofMalatya, the patent specifies thatyassi kadayif is made from 3 different types of flour.[16][17]
Qatayef is the general name of the dessert as a whole and, more specifically, thebatter.It is usually made out of flour (and/or semolina flour), baking powder, water, yeast, and sometimes sugar. The result of the batter being poured onto a roundhot plate appears similar to pancakes, except only one side is cooked, then stuffed and folded.[11][18][19]
To make Qatayef Satati (deep fried) The pastry is filled with either unsalted sweet cheese a mixture of any of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, raisins, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, rose extract, and cinnamon. It is then deep fried or, alternatively, baked and served with a hot sweetsyrup or sometimes honey. The other way of serving qatayef is by filling it with whipped cream orqishta (قشطة), folding it halfway, and serving it with scented syrup without frying or baking. This way of serving is calledassafiri qatayef (قطايف عصافيري).[20]
^Naanou, Paul; Rhodes, Sam (2020). "Cultural Connections: Exploring the Mathematics of Qatayef".Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK-12.113 (12):1034–1038.doi:10.5951/MTLT.2020.0164.ISSN0025-5769.S2CID230629195.
