Osmalieh
Two layers of crisp kataifi pastry with ashta cream between them, finished with syrup and pistachio. A Levantine favourite in Ramadan, named after the Ottoman era.
Also known as: othmaliye, osmaliyeh, uthmaliyya, العثملية
Osmalieh (also spelled othmaliye) is made of two layers of fried pastry with qishta cream between them.[1] It is filled with cream “instead of cheese”, which sets it apart from cheese knafeh.[2]
How it is made
One published recipe uses knafeh (kataifi) pastry with melted butter for the two layers, an ishta cream flavoured with orange blossom water, and a syrup with lemon juice and orange blossom water, finished with crushed pistachios.[2]
Where and when
Osmalieh is found across Bilad al-Sham, the Levant, and is much in demand in Ramadan.[1]
The name
Both sources say the sweet became well known in the Ottoman era and takes its name from it: ʿuthmaliyya, “Ottoman”.[1][2]
Sources
- 1.Khalil al-Ali. العثملية تغزو المائدة العربية. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, 2016. In Arabic.
- 2.Maha Salah. Othmaliye. Middle East Monitor, 2020.