If you read our cooking adventures from my son’s Cultural Geography class, you know he ignored my suggestions on countries I told him to research. Instead, he chose different ones, leaving me to prepare recipes from these countries. We’ve made Icelandic Chocolate Pikes and Copycat Tortuga Rum Cakes from the Virgin Islands.
When he asked which African country he should research, I replied, “I have no idea.” “I will choose Egypt,” he said. “That one will be easy to research.” Easy to research, maybe. Easy to find a simple dessert recipe to represent the country? Not so much. “I want to make Kakh cookies,” he told me, “They look easy.” One look at the ingredient list was enough to convince me they did NOT look easy. How many people have rose water or orange blossom water in their pantry? We (meaning I, who has to make the recipes) decided to make an Egyptian Um Ali Recipe.”
Here’s how to make the Egyptian Um Ali Recipe
This is similar to Bread Pudding in the US and is made with nuts, phyllo dough, and raisins. While the dish said it should be served warm, we all decided we liked the taste better when it was cold. It is not a super sweet dessert and is perfect to serve with a cheese tray or fruit. This can also be made gluten-free by susbstituting gluten-free phyllo dough.
Step by Step Directions
Begin by lightly browning your phyllo dough in the oven. While the phyllo is browning, mix together the milk, cream, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Place the milk mixture into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Spread one layer of the phyllo along the bottom of a greased baking dish.
Spread the raisins and nuts evenly over the phyllo dough and top with 1/2 the milk mixture. Add another layer of phyllo and cover with the rest of the milk mixture.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool before cutting.
Printable Recipe
- 1 package Phyllo Dough
- ½ cup EACH: raisins, chopped Pecans and chopped pistachios |
- 4 cups Milk
- ½ cup Cream
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ) Unroll the phyllo dough and place on a baking sheet, Cook, until browned, in a 350 degree oven. This will probably take 8-10 minutes
- ) Coat a 9” by 13” baking dish with cooking spray. Place a thin layer of phyllo dough onto the bottom of the dish, making sure the bottom is completed covered.
- ) Top the phyllo with the raisins and nuts. Make sure the raisin/nut mixture is spread evenly.
- ) Bring the milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon to the boil.
- ) Pour ½ the milk mixture over the nut/raisin mixture. Top with another layer of phyllo dough.
- ) Pour the rest of the milk mixture over the phyllo dough. Top with a very thin layer of phyllo dough.
- ) Bake at 350 degrees until browned on the top. This should take about 30 minutes
Do you have a favorite Egyptian or Middle Eastern Dish? Let me know. I look forward to trying more.
I used to work at an Egyptian hookah lounge and I ate Egyptian food. Looks good and I would love to try it!
Oh wow, I love learning about recipes from other cultures. This sounds delicious!
This looks SO good to try! I haven’t heard of this food before but it does look delicious!
I have not tried Egyptian food yet, but I sure would love to try this Um Ali. It looks simple and easy to make, and I love the addition of pisctachios!
What a super cool and unique recipe. I’ve never heard of this one before. I’d love to try it.
I love that you gave step by step instructions. I’d love to try it.
Sounds amazing! I love trying food from others countries! Can’t wait to try it!
First of all what a great thing to do for your son as a Mom. It is one thing to make a simple cake or cookie, but to make a dessert like this, is great. I am sure he knows how lucky he is to have you. Your dessert looks tasty and I think it is neat that you tried it both warm and cold. (Good tip to know you like it better cold). I am sure his class was impressed.
I’ve never try this before but it looks delicious! What a great recipe, thank you for sharing!
Leave it to kids to put mama to the test when they swear something is easy lol. I think the recipe you settled on sounds really delicious and I like that it’s not overly sweet so it can be paired with a variety of dishes.
Wow this looks delicious! Ingredients that are not hard to come by either plus it looks like a healthy option.
Thanks for the inspiration to look to other countries for dessert inspiration! I always loved studying about Egypt when I was in school but I’ve never heard of this. It sounds yummy!
I have never tried this recipe, but from the looks of the recipe it sounds awesome! I love nuts in a sweet and savory dessert.
I’ve never had anything like this before. This is something new for me. I would love to give it a try though. It sounds really good.
I’ve never heard of this recipe before. This is really cool and I would love to try it!
I have a friend who makes this! She has such a really great taste for foreign treats.
I have never seen anything like this before! It looks really neat!
This actually looks really tasty! I would love to try this one.
I really enjoy trying foods (especially desserts!) from other cultures and countries. I’ve never tried Egyptian food of any type before so this looks like fun to try. It looks a bit like Baklava to me.
This looks amazing. Reminds me of baklava
This looks like such a delicious desert! Yum and that dough is so flaky – perfection!
This looks like a great dessert and it so nice that your son and you learned from this project. I am reminded of Baklava and it looks just as good if not better
I have never heard of this desert but I love trying international foods. I would love to try to make this just because I’m curious as to what it taste like.
I had not heard of Umi Ali before, what a unique dessert idea. I will have to give it a try because it’s a neat way to use phyllo and I am sure it will be fun trying something new!
What a unique dessert! I’ve used phyllo before, but not like this.
Same here. I am excited to try it in this, though. It sounds awesome.
I have never had Egyptian food before, but I love that this came from a school project. What a neat way to learn about new cultures.