 Piece of 2-layer Layali Lubnan | |
| Alternative names | Beirut nights |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Lebanon |
| Region or state | Levant |
| Associatedcuisine | Lebanese cuisine |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Semolina, milk, sugar, rose water, orange blossom water, cream |
| Variations | Garnished with nuts, banana slices, or whipped cream |
Layali Lubnan (Arabic:ليالي لبنان,lit. 'Nights of Lebanon'), also calledQashtalia (Arabic:قشطلية), is a Lebanese dessert. It is made from a layer ofsemolina pudding that is scented withorange blossom water androse water, a second layer on top made fromqishta, and topped with ground pistachios, honey orqatir.[1][2][3]
The origin of the name "Lebanese nights" is unknown.[4]
Different names for the dish are used, such asBeirut nights.[1] Different spellings and pronunciations are also common, likeLayali Libnan,[5]Ashtalieh,[6] orQashtaliyeh (Arabic:قشطلية).[7]
InSyrian Arabic,qashtaliya refers to a dessert made from qishta and starch that is topped with syrup and nuts.[8]
The dish consists of a layer ofsemolina pudding, usually prepared by boiling milk, semolina, androse water together in a pan, sometimesgum arabic is added,[6] the mixture is poured into a tray and left to cool, a second layer ofqishta is then prepared and added on top of the first layer after it had cooled.[9][4][5]
After the pudding is done, the dessert is topped with nuts,pistachios,qatir, and sometimesrose petals.[9]
The dish is refrigerated before serving.[5]
Layali Lubnan is one of the most common made-at-home desserts inLebanon, its often made to celebrate holidays and special occasions.[3][6][7] It is also considered a simple and cheap dessert compared to other traditional desserts.[10][3]
