Dubai-Style Strawberries with Pistachio Cream
Dubai-style strawberry and Pistachio Cream dessert features crispy, golden kadayif cups covered with pistachio cream and served with juicy strawberries for an elegant Middle Eastern-inspired treat.
Bring the flavours of the Middle East to your table with these simple Dubai-style pistachio cream kadayif cups topped with fresh strawberries. This kataifi dessert combines layers of crispy, golden kadayif pastry, a silky-smooth pistachio cream filling, and juicy strawberries for the perfect balance of crunch, creaminess, and freshness. Inspired by the luxurious chocolates of Dubai, these easy cups make a show-stopping treat for special occasions and family gatherings.
Dubai Chocolate Inspiration
Inspired by the viral Dubai chocolate bars taking TikTok by storm, this elegant dessert captures that same luxurious pistachio magic. While those indulgent bars combine crispy kadayif with pistachio cream and rich chocolate, I’ve lightened things up to let the pistachios truly shine alongside fresh, juicy strawberries. I kept things simple for the younger crowd and cut back on the chocolate, creating a more balanced treat. If you’re craving that Dubai chocolate experience, feel free to drizzle a melted chocolate into your kadayif cups!
What Is Kadayif (Kataifi) Pastry?
Kadayif, or kataifi, is a classic pastry from the Middle East and Mediterranean regions that resembles very fine shredded phyllo pastry. When toasted in the pan, kadayif strands become golden brown, creating crisp, airy strands that are perfect as a dessert vessel. Kadayif is often used in Turkish, Greek, and Arabic sweets, typically with nuts (walnuts or pistachios) and rich syrup. To keep your kadayif cups crisp, butter the strands well and toast gently until golden brown.
Pistachio Cream, Paste and Butter
You can use any of these three pistachio products or even make your own; simply adjust the sweetness with powdered sugar depending on which one you choose. Some are greener than others, so aim to get the greenest possible for an impactful contrast of colours.
- Pistachio Paste: Pure, unsweetened ground pistachios with a thick, concentrated texture, perfect for baking and adding intense pistachio flavour.
- Pistachio Butter: Smooth, spreadable nut butter made from ground pistachios, similar to peanut or almond butter, ideal for toast.
- Pistachio Cream: A sweet, spreadable dessert cream combining pistachios with sugar, oil and often milk, similar to Nutella but with a distinctive pistachio flavour.
*You can easily make your own pistachio cream at home! Check out this simple recipe!
Dubai-Style Strawberries with Pistachio Cream
Ingredients
- 100 g kadayif
- 150 g pistachio cream
- 50 strawberries
- 30 g butter
- salted pistachios
Instructions
- Cut and separate the shredded kadayif strands into pieces of 1 cm.
- Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Add the butter and kadayif and stir frequently for 5–7 minutes until golden and crispy. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a bowl, combine the toasted kadayif and the pistachio cream until well covered.
- Assemble the cups with strawberries, the pistachio kadayif and extra pistachios on top.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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