Aish El Saraya Recipe

Ingredients - Serves 16 persons:

4 cups sugar
2 cups ground pistachio nuts
1/2 cup orange blossom water
2 lb (1 kg) ashta (home-made cream)
2 lb (1 kg) round loaf of French bread
30 cm diameter
1 cup water

Preparation:

• Remove the crust with a sharp knife and process in the blender to form breadcrumbs.
• In a saucepan, place the sugar and water over medium heat and stir with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves.
• Remove one cup of sugar and water and stir over medium heat until it becomes brown in color.
• Add the brown sugar to the sugar and water solution, stir and pour over the breadcrumbs.
• Knead the bread crumbs with a moistened hand. Shape into a ball, and set aside.
• Roll half the ball of breadcrumbs between 2 aluminum foil sheets to a thickness of 1/2 cm.
• Remove the foil and turn out onto a large serving dish, and sprinkle a little orange blossom water on it.
• Smooth down with the palm of your hand.
• Place the ashta on this layer in the dish and pat it down with a spoon.
• Roll the other half of bread ball and turn the layer of bread on top of the ashta. Sprinkle with a little orange blossom water and smooth down with your palm. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Serve cold, garnished with the ground pistachio nuts.