Experience the enchantment of Egyptian cuisine through Umm Ali, a delightful blend of puff pastry, raisins, almonds, and coconut, creating a dessert that’s as heartwarming as bread pudding.
Okay, before you run away screaming, hear me out. This Egyptian sweet pastry dessert is totally delicious, easy to make, and uses really common ingredients.
These desserts from Egypt are typically made with regular old puff pastry, milk and cream, coconut chips, sugar, almonds, and raisins. I buy my coconut chips at Trader Joe’s, but if you can’t find any, you can substitute shredded coconut.
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What is Umm Ali?
Umm Ali, also spelled Om Ali, is a traditional Egyptian dessert that holds a special place in Middle Eastern cuisine. Its name translates to “Ali’s Mother,” hinting at a storied past that adds to its cultural richness.
This dessert is essentially a delectable Egyptian bread pudding made from layers of pastry mixed with a variety of ingredients like nuts (such as almonds and pistachios), raisins, and sometimes coconut flakes. These components are soaked in a sweetened milk mixture. It’s often flavored with vanilla or cinnamon, and then baked until golden brown and bubbly.
Reasons to Love This Egyptian Pastry
- I love that Umm Ali offers a unique blend of textures, from the flaky baked puff pastry to the crunch of nuts and the chewiness of raisins.
- This dessert works great for gatherings because you can easily make it in large quantities and everyone generally loves it.
- These Egyptian sweets are versatile desserts, easily adaptable with different nuts or fruits.
Recipe Ingredients
- Puff Pastry: Flaky and buttery, puff pastry forms the base, adding a light, airy texture that absorbs the creamy mixture.
- Almonds: Sliced almonds introduce a nutty flavor and a crunchy contrast to the soft, creamy elements.
- Raisins: These add natural sweetness and a chewy texture, providing bursts of flavor.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations
- Spice Variation: Infuse the milk mixture with crushed cardamom pods and a few strands of saffron for a richly aromatic base. Replace sliced almonds with crushed pistachios for added texture. Sprinkle a pinch of ground cardamom and saffron threads over the top before baking for a delightful burst of flavor and color.
- Vanilla Cream Dream: For added richness, mix a cup of whipping cream into the milk mixture. Enhance the dessert’s flavor by adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract. For a buttery twist, stir in a tablespoon of melted butter into the hot milk mixture before pouring it over the pastry. This addition will bring a smooth, velvety texture and a deeper flavor to the dessert.
How to Make Umm Ali
Step #1: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (218 degrees Celsius). Tear the cooled puff pastry sheet into bite-sized pieces and lay them in a 9″ x 9″ baking dish.
Step #2: Sprinkle the almonds, raisins, coconut chips, and sugar over the pastry.
Step #3: Pour the milk and half-and-half over the top, ensuring it evenly coats the pastry pieces.
Step #4: Bake for 15 minutes, until toasty and bubbly.
Expert Tip
For an even richer flavor, try toasting the almonds and coconut chips in a dry skillet before sprinkling them over the pastry. This enhances their nuttiness and adds depth to the dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the dessert Umm Ali is also known as Omali, Oumm Ali, or Umm Ali. This traditional Egyptian sweet dish has various spellings and names in different regions. People widely recognize these names. It’s a comforting and rich bread pudding-like dessert, typically made with pastry, milk, nuts, and sweeteners. In some variations, people use palmiers as the pastry component.
Certainly! You can use croissants instead of puff pastry in this recipe. Just tear them into bite-sized pieces and follow the same steps. They’ll add a buttery, flaky texture to the dessert.
Storage Info
To store Umm Ali leftovers, place them in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days. Its texture is best when fresh, but it holds up well. Freezing is not recommended, as it can alter the pastry’s texture.
To reheat, cover with foil and warm in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for about 10 minutes, or until heated through. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the pastry soggy.
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Umm Ali Recipe (Egyptian Sweet Pastry Dessert Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry - baked according to package directions and cooled to room temperature
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup coconut chips
- 1/8 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup half-and-half
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (218 degrees Celsius). Tear the cooled puff pastry sheet into bite-sized pieces and lay them in a 9" x 9" dish.
- Sprinkle the almonds, raisins, coconut chips, and sugar over the pastry.
- Pour the milk and half-and-half over the top, ensuring it evenly coats the pastry pieces.
- Bake for 15 minutes, until toasty and bubbly.
NOTES
Nutrition
Soft, creamy, and a little toasty on top. I liked the mix of textures.
I just returned from Egypt 3 days ago and was looking for this recipe; fun dessert soup. BTW, now is the perfect time to go to both Egypt and Jordan – you can see Jorash, Petra, the pyramids, tombs, temples, churches & mosques without crowds. Once in a lifetime experience – I used Memphis Tours. Covid travel is a pain but the complete lack of crowds makes it worth the hassle.