What Arab stuffed pancake dessert is commonly served during Ramadan? Qatayef is the answer.
Qatayef is an Arabic sweet dumpling or folded pancake made by cooking batter on one side, then filling it with ingredients such as sweet cheese, cream, or nuts. The filled pancake may be eaten fresh, baked, or fried, and is often finished with sugar syrup.
In countries including Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, qatayef is closely associated with Ramadan. Bakeries and market stalls commonly prepare it throughout the holy month, and families serve it after iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast. Some varieties are small and sealed, while qatayef asafiri is folded partly around a cream filling.
A common mix-up is confusing qatayef with kunafa or baklava. Those are also celebrated Middle Eastern sweets, but qatayef is specifically the pancake-like dessert that is stuffed and folded. Its seasonal popularity makes it one of Ramadan’s most recognizable treats.