Qatayef Asafiri (Little Birds)

Name: Qatayef Asafiri (Little Birds)
Cuisine: Africa & Middle-East, Middle Eastern
Ingredients: 1 cup (5 ounces/142 grams), all-purpose flour; ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon (3 ounces/85 grams), semolina flour; 1 teaspoon, ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon, ground mahlab; 1 teaspoon, baking powder; ¼ teaspoon, baking soda; ½ teaspoon, table salt; ½ teaspoon, ground anise seeds; 2 cups, whole milk; ¼ cup, honey; 1 tablespoon, plain whole-milk yogurt; 1 tablespoon, rose water; 1 tablespoon orange blossom, water; ½ teaspoon, vegetable oil; 16 ounces (454 grams/2 cups), mascarpone; ¼ cup, whole milk; ½ cup, honey, divided; 2 tablespoons, rose water; 1 tablespoon orange blossom, water; ½ teaspoon, ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon, ground mahlab; ¼ teaspoon, table salt; ¼ cup, shelled pistachios, chopped fine

Desserts or Baked Goods
Africa & Middle-East
Middle Eastern
Eggs & Dairy
Cheese
Make Ahead

By Dominique Khoury ･ Appears in Cook's Illustrated March/April 2023

Qatayef asafiri (aka little birds)—petite pancakes folded around a creamy filling, edged with nuts, and drizzled with honey—are the holiday's most anticipated confection.

SERVES 8 to 10

TIME 1½ hours, plus 30 minutes resting

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