By Akshara
August 27, 2026
Elevate your Rakshabandhan 2026 celebrations with a spectacular homemade pistachio kunafa to sweeten the sibling bond. This Middle Eastern classic features a crispy shredded pastry crust filled with a warm, molten cheese centre, all drenched in a fragrant rose water syrup. Garnished generously with crushed pistachios, it offers a luxurious blend of textures and sweet flavours. Serve this warm dessert straight from the oven to create memorable festive moments with your family.
250g kataifi pastry, thawed  1/2 cup pure ghee, melted  200g shredded mozzarella cheese  1/2 cup crushed pistachios  1 cup caster sugar  1/2 cup water  1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice  1 teaspoon rose water
Boil the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan for five minutes to form a simple syrup, stir in the rose water, and let it cool completely.
Break the kataifi pastry apart in a large bowl, pour over the melted pure ghee, and rub the strands thoroughly until every piece is coated.
Press half of the buttered pastry firmly into the bottom of a round baking tin, spread an even layer of mozzarella cheese leaving a small border around the edge, and top with the remaining pastry.
Bake at 190C for thirty minutes until the top is deep golden brown, remove from the oven, immediately pour the cold syrup over the hot pastry, and garnish with crushed pistachios.