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Chocolate Dubai Pudding – A Dessert where Creamy Elegance Meets Golden Kadaif. This luxurious dessert in a glass brings the flavors of the Middle East, combining intense dark chocolate with silky pistachio cream and crispy, butter-fried kadaif. It is a perfect blend of textures – soft, creamy, and crunchy – ideal for indulging on special occasions.
Ingredients for Chocolate Dubai Pudding (Serves 4)
For Silky Chocolate Cream (Pudding)
- 500 ml whole milk
- 50 g sugar (to taste)
- 1 packet of pudding powder (chocolate flavor)
- 100 g dark chocolate (high quality, at least 70%)
- 2 tablespoons high-quality pistachio cream (for aroma)
For Crispy Kadaif Insert
- 150 g kadaif (thin noodles)
- 50 g melted butter (or ghee)
For Decoration and Serving
- coarsely chopped pistachios
- fresh mint (optional)
Method
1Pudding Preparation: Mix the pudding powder, sugar, and milk in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the pudding thickens. Remove from the heat and stir in the broken dark chocolate until completely melted, creating a silky smooth cream.
2Pudding Cooling: Cool the pudding to room temperature. To prevent a skin from forming, stir occasionally or cover the surface directly with plastic wrap. Stir in two tablespoons of pistachio cream (optionally, the cream can be added as a separate layer at the end).
3Kadaif Frying: Finely chop the kadaif. Heat the melted butter (or ghee) in a pan and fry the kadaif in it until golden brown and crispy. Remove and cool. The kadaif should remain light and not clump together.
4Assembling the Dessert: First, scoop a layer of chilled chocolate pudding into transparent glasses. Add a generous layer of crispy kadaif on top of the pudding. Repeat the layers (pudding, kadaif) or leave kadaif as the only crunchy layer in between.
5Finishing and Chilling: Sprinkle coarsely chopped pistachios over the top of the dessert. Place the glasses in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour so that all the flavors meld and the dessert reaches the optimal serving temperature.
Tips for a Perfect Dubai Dessert
• Chocolate: Use high-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) as it will give the pudding a deep flavor.
• Pistachio Cream: Instead of mixing the cream into the entire pudding, you can save it and add it as a separate, contrasting layer between the chocolate and kadaif.
• Butter: Ghee (clarified butter) gives the kadaif a nuttier and more authentic flavor than regular butter.
• Serving: For a truly “Dubai” look, serve the pudding in elegant glass cups or dessert bowls, decorated with edible gold (optional).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where can I buy kadaif?
Kadaif (also known as katayif or kunafa noodles) is usually found in the freezer or refrigerated section of larger supermarkets or in ethnic food stores (Turkish, Arabic).
Can I prepare the chocolate pudding without the powder?
Of course! Replace the powder with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch (corn flour) and an egg yolk. Cook in the same way until it thickens. This creates an even richer and homemade flavor.
Can I prepare the dessert in advance?
The pudding can be prepared in advance, but we recommend adding the kadaif (for crunchiness) to the dessert just before serving or no more than 2 hours prior.
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