Prep time 10 min Soak time 24 hours
A delish mix of stewed fruit, raisins and pine nuts in a rich apricot syrup. An ideal and light way to end a rich meal.
The holy month of Ramadan in Egypt is unique where both the spiritual and festive aspects of the season blend with an intensity unlike any other country in the Middle East. While quite different in style, the American Thanksgiving tradition and the whole holiday period leading up to the New Year is a similarly festive, family-centric time with many culinary traditions.
In Cairo’s Ramadan, after the day-long fast is broken with a meal shared with family the whole country erupts into a night-long celebration. In homes and ornate tents lit by multicolored lanterns ( with their own colorful history), 
families and friends gather to enjoy the evening with special drinks and sweets. Khoshaf, a delicious dessert of dried fruit, raisins and nuts, is often part of the dessert buffet and is popular among Christians and Muslims alike.
I decided to make Khoshaf for Thanksgiving dinner this year as it is the perfect fruity finale to a great feast and because it requires no cooking! That said, technically it is not a gourmet quickie but it takes only 10 minutes to put together after you soak the fruits for 24 hours. It is delicious on its own or topped with vanilla ice cream or heavy cream. It also lasts for 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
The key ingredient is Kamar-el-deen, sheets of dried apricot paste – sometimes called apricot leather and available from most Middle Eastern grocers.
It is also available from Amazon as dried apricot paste sheets and gives the syrup the essential rich, apricot sweet intensity that is very satisfying. The dish works without it but with less of an apricot blast.
Khoshaf - Dried Fruit Compote
by
Derek Farwagi
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup dried prunes
- ½ cup cup golden raisins (or sultanas)
- ½ cup slivered or whiole blanched almonds (pine nuts work too)
- ½ sheet dried apricot sheet
- ½ tsp Rosewater & 1/2 tsp of Orange blossom
- 3 cups Boiling hot water
- Sugar to tase
- 1 handfull coarsely chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Cut the dried apricots and prunes in half. Remove any stones remaining in the fruits.
- Combine in a deep bowl and add the raisins and almonds.
- Cut up half a sheet of dried apricot sheet into small pieces and add to the fruit.
- Pour boiling water into the bowl until the ingredients are well covered.
- Cover the bowl and allow it to marinate overnight. The dried apricot sheet will need time to dissolve.
- Stir in a little sugar to taste and serve garnished with pistachios.
For the drink
Apricot sheets make a smoothie type delicious drink. In a bowl cut up half an apricot sheet into small pieces. Pour two cups of boiling water to cover the pieces and allow to soak refrigerated for 24 hours. You are looking for the consistency of a smoothie so add a little cold water if it is too thick.
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