Torta Kataifi Recipe

Recipe courtesy of Axios Estiatorio
Show: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Episode: Homeland Favorites

Total: 2 hr 55 min
Active: 25 min

Yield: 12 servings

Level: Intermediate

Ingredients

One 16-oz package kataifi (shredded phyllo dough)
1 cup raw, unsalted pistachios
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 pounds ricotta cheese
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/5 cup (about 3 1/4 tablespoons) confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup egg whites
1 cup Citrus Syrup, warmed, recipe follows

Citrus Syrup:

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 lemon, zested
1/2 orange, zested

Directions

Special equipment: a 10 1/2-inch springform pan

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Line the bottom of the springform pan with a layer of the kataifi. Bake until golden brown, 10 minutes. Then cool completely.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

Place the pistachios, cinnamon and cloves in a food processor and process until the nuts are chunky and uniform in size. Do not over process. Reserve half of the nuts for a later use.

Sprinkle the first half of the nuts over the baked pastry; spread most of the nuts towards the edges of the pan and fade to a light coating in the center of the pan. This will create a nice crust on the back of each piece when the dessert is cut and served.

In a large mixing bowl mix together the ricotta, cream, sugar and vanilla with a large spoon. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or by hand with a whisk, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the ricotta mixture with a spatula or rubber scraper. Pour the mixture into the pan over the nuts. Sprinkle the remaining nuts on top of the ricotta mixture similar to the first time, with most of the nuts on the outer edge and fade to lightly coat the center. Spread the remaining sheet of kataifi on top of the cake, covering the entire surface.

Bake until golden brown and the cake is set, 1 hour 30 minutes.

Cool the cake completely.

Pour the hot Citrus Syrup over the cooled cake, then cut and serve.
Citrus Syrup:

Place the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest and orange zest in a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the mixture achieves a syrup consistency, 20 minutes.