Name: Atayef (Middle Eastern pancakes)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 30 pancakes
Ingredients: 1 cup all purpose flour; 1 cup water; 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 cup semolina; 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp instant yeast; 2 tbsp sugar; 2 tsp vanilla; a pinch of salt

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Atayef or Qatayef are Middle Eastern pancakes filled with white cheese or nuts then soaked in a rose sugary syrup. They are only made and served during the Holy month of Ramadan. Here’s a detailed recipe to make Atayef from scratch.

Have you ever tried this amazing Ramadani Middle Eastern desserts? Called Atayef, qatayef, gatayef, or even kataief. These desserts are only served during the holy month of Ramadan in the Middle East and that’s what makes them so special! There is something wonderful about dishes that are only served during holidays or special times, and atayef pancakes mean Ramadan.

WHAT ARE ATAYEF?

Once you try the Atayef – you will fall in love! I can guarantee you that! They’re basically the Middle Eastern version of pancakes, and they’re stuffed with lots of tasty fillings. Atayef (Qatayef) are usually prepared by street vendors in the streets of Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, and Egypt. They are also sold in bakeries nowadays, and some people prepare them at home. They’re very popular, it’s like you you have no choice and MUST have Atayef during Ramadan!

HOW TO MAKE ATAYEF FROM SCRATCH?

Atayef are very similar to pancakes, they’re made with flour, semolina, yeast, milk, baking powder, salt, sugar and you can also add vanilla or rose water if you like. They’re usually fried on a nonstick pan or a griddle pan with no oil, but only fried from on side and folded which is very interesting because they’re just like thin pancakes with 2 sides, one is lace-like, and the other side is velvety since it’s not fried on that side and is filled with bubbles!

OUR TRIP TO THE LOCAL BAKERY IN JORDAN

My Mum and I went to a local bakery in Madaba, Jordan just to see how traditional Atayef pancakes are made. It was very interesting as we got to see the technique, and how the baker was working with great skill and speed. Below are some pictures for you to enjoy.

Mutaz (the guy in the red) was making regular medium sized Atayef, I don’t know how he did it but all of them were exactly the same size! and then Tareq (the guy in the white) showed me how to make a giant Atayef! I mean, how awesome is that?! I’m going to try and make this at home but then I need a giant pan to fit! The giant atayef are stuffed with cream and are not folded, it’s just cover with another piece of atayef just like layering cakes.

We also recently went to another bakery and got to see how atayef are made using machinery. I managed to take 2 pictures to share in this blog post.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ATAYEF

Regular Atayef: they’re usually bigger in size, crunchy from the outside, filled with either nuts (Walnuts, pistachios, or almonds) with cinnamon, or with white cheese (Ricotta can work) and then deep fried and soaked in (or drizzled with) a sugary rose water syrup or less commonly is baked with a little bit of oil and then drizzled with the syrup.
Atayef Asafiri (or mini Atayef): they’re usually smaller in size, and have a soft exterior, served without cooking or frying, and are commonly filled with cream and pistachios. Fillings for this kind of atayef can be fun, you can stuff them with Nutella, fresh fruits, nut butter, you name it!
Giant Atayef: they’re huge (see picture above), usually filled with cream and nuts, but it can also be stuffed with white cheese and then drizzled with sugary syrup!

THE TECHNIQUE

The technique is very important, it is very simple but you have to read the instructions carefully to understand it. You may need 1/2 – 1/4 cup more or less in the recipe that I’m sharing with you as it depends on what kind of flour and semolina you’re using. The batter is sort of thin but the best way to know if you need to add more water or not is by cooking your first atayef pancake. If you get a fair amount of bubbles that means that your batter is perfect, if not then you will need to add more water to the mixture. This is a common mistake when it comes to making Atayef, working with a very thick batter.

HOW TO MAKE ATAYEF – Step by step tutorial

Step 1.

To prepare the mixture, place all dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Then add the wet ingredients gradually to the dry mixture and whisk until well combined. Place in a warm place, cover with a damp cloth, allow your batter to rest for 15-30 minutes.

Step 2.

Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat, then pour the batter using a spoon (for small Atayef pour 1 tbsp of batter, for medium-sized ones add 2 tbsp, and 1/4 cup for large ones).

Step 3.

The Atayef pancake will start bubbling but make sure that you get loads of bubbles as if you don’t then it means that your batter is way too thick. Each pancake should take about 1-2 minutes to cook but that also depends on the size of the atayef that you’re making. When the last drop on the surface dries and isn’t shiny, that means that they’re done (remove from pan immediately).

Transfer to a tea towel and make sure that you fold down the towel to cover the pancakes, otherwise they will dry out really quickly (that can result into atayef that are difficult to fold and seal when you want to fill them).

The atayef will become softer once they cool down, which is good because then they will be easier to fold and seal while you stuff them. If you don’t want to fill them right away, you can store them in an airtight container or a plastic bag to avoid drying, but I highly recommend that you stuff them and eat them in the same day.

FILLING SUGGESTIONS

White cheese – traditionally we use cow’s white cheese, but you could also use ricotta with a little bit of sugar and rose water.

Walnuts, cinnamon, and sugar.

Or, almonds, cinnamon, cardamom, and sugar.

HOW TO STUFF THE ATAYEF?

To stuff the Atayef, hold each pancake with your hand then add 1-2 tbsp of filling (but do not overstuff them) then fold the atayef so it looks like half a moon and then press the edges together to seal.

Using your fingers keep sealing the edges but make sure that the amount of stuffing is just right. It shouldn’t be overfilled, as that can lead into popped atayef while they’re being fried or baked.

Keep going until the whole pancake is now sealed with enough filling inside.

Each piece will look like half moon, and now it’s ready to be cooked.

Atayef can be either fried or less commonly baked.

To fry: heat corn oil (about 1cm) on a pan, then start dropping the stuffed Atayef and fry until the edges are slightly golden brown and crunchy, remove from pan and soak them in the sugar syrup for a few seconds (or drizzle them with it).

To bake: place on a cookie baking sheet, then brush the Atayef with corn oil. Bake on 200c (390f) until golden and crunchy. Drizzle with the sugary syrup and serve.

THE ROSE SUGAR SYRUP

Ingredients: 1 cup water, 2 1/2 cups sugar, 1 tsp lemon juice, 2 tsp rose water, 1 tsp corn syrup (optional).

Instructions: bring the water and sugar to boil then add the lemon juice, mix well. Lower the heat then leave it on low heat for 10 minutes. After you remove it from heat, add the rose water then let it cool completely before using.

I hope that this post will help you make perfect Atayef. If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and tell me how did they turn out. Enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please don’t forget to rate it and share a picture on social media. Tag #LittleSunnyKitchen in your posts as I would really love to see what you make! Thank you for supporting Little Sunny Kitchen, so I can keep sharing my family recipes with you for free.

5 from 3 votes

Atayef (Middle Eastern pancakes)

Atayef are pancake-like desserts served during the holy month of Ramadan.

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings pancakes

Author Diana

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup semolina
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp instant yeast
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp vanilla
a pinch of salt

Instructions

To prepare the mixture, place all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix.
Mix all liquid ingredients together, then gradually add the mixture to the dry mixture and whisk to ensure that the mixture is properly mixed.
Place bowl in a warm place, cover with a damp cloth and allow batter to rest for 15-30 minutes.
Heat a non-stick pan on medium heat, then pour the batter using a spoon to make circles. (for small Atayef pour 1 tbsp of batter, for medium sized ones add 2tbsp, and 1/4 cup for the large ones)
The Atayef will start bubbling but make sure that you get loads of bubbles because if you don't, then it means that you didn't make the right consistency. Fix this by adding more water to the batter as it might be too thick. Each piece should take about 1-2 minutes until they're done, but this depends on the size of the Atayef.
When the last drop on the surface dries and isn't shiny anymore, this means that the Atayef is done. Remove from pan immediately.
Transfer to a tea towel, but make sure that you fold down the towel to cover the Atayef, otherwise they will dry out really quickly which can lead to Atayef that are difficult to fold and seal.
Stuff the Atayef with the filling that you choose (cheese, walnuts, almonds, etc...) then either fry or bake them as explained above. Dip in syrup or just drizzle with it (for better results, soak warm Atayef in cold syrup)

Diana's Tips

For vegan Atayef omit the milk and add water instead.
You can freeze the Atayef in a plastic bag, they can stay in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutritional values are a rough estimate per 1 pancake without any fillings.

Nutrition facts

Course Dessert

Cuisine Middle Eastern

©LITTLE SUNNY KITCHEN. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any websites or social media is strictly prohibited.

Comments

Ellie
February 04, 2020 at 12:50 pm
Hi Diana – what a great recipe – can’t wait to try it. I work for a UK charity called Embrace the Middle East and we would love to share this recipe with our UK supporters via our website – we will credit you as the source of course. Is it ok for us to share it in this way? Thanks 🙂
- Diana
  February 04, 2020 at 1:07 pm
  Hi Ellie, thank you for your message and for asking. I’m happy for you to share an image of the recipe, with a link back to my blog post but please don’t share the full recipe on your website 🙂 Let me know if you need a high res image and I’ll send it to you. Thanks
  - Ellie
    February 06, 2020 at 3:39 pm
    That’s great – thanks Diana – yes any hi-res images that you are happy for us to use and then link to your blog would be great to have – thank you 🙂
Amal
May 17, 2019 at 7:38 am

Loved it ! Great recipe. Thank u so much. 😊
- Diana
  May 17, 2019 at 11:45 am
  Glad you enjoyed the atayef!
Yazz
May 08, 2019 at 3:46 pm

Tried these and they turned to be incredible! thank you so much for posting this recipe.
Alison
February 14, 2019 at 10:34 am
These look amazing, especially when they are stuffed. I have never tried them but am now inspired to give them a try. Have included in my pancakes from around the world roundup, thank you
matt
December 09, 2018 at 8:18 pm
These are also traditionally served during Hanukkah (deep fried, of course) by Mizrachi Jews.
Terry
July 20, 2018 at 3:25 am
Is the semolina fine ground like flour or course grind?
Bianca
October 20, 2016 at 8:13 am

Oh my!!! Giant Qataif????
Need one right now. But have to wait until the next Ramadan. Which bakery sells them?
I come regularly in Madaba and planning to live there in a couple of years.
Your blog is absolutely beautiful.
Tasbih @ Cleobuttera
March 03, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Oh I love that you have Middle Eastern recipes on your blog! I’m a bad Middle Easterner; I’ve been blogging for a little over 3 months and haven’t posted 1 Middle Eastern recipe. They just feel more Ramadan, but still I owe it to our wonderful cuisine to introduce its deliciousness to the world. Your katayef looks amazing! I’ve never made the pancake itself from scratch, so this recipe will come very handy when I do. Thanks for sharing:)
- Diana
  March 09, 2015 at 10:49 am
  Haha I live in Jordan so I get to eat loads of Middle Eastern food, but you’re right Atayef are only made during Ramadan. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂