Kodafa

Totally unique treat from the middle east, Kodafa is a special cake made with couscous, fresh cheese, pistacchi oozing with honey. A lovely idea when you are in the mood for something different, a new taste experience!! Visually it looks great, too!! :-D

Ingredients:

200g (7oz) Couscous
2 eggs
120g (4,5 oz) butter, melted
Pinch of salt

180g (6oz+) FRESH mozzarella, chopped
250g (8,5oz) ricotta
40g (1,5 oz) honey
1 tsp Cinnamon
A few drops of vanilla essence

For the syrup
180ml (6oz+) honey
100ml water
1 small package or 1 pinch of ground saffran
1tsp orange flower water (alternative, rose water)

30-40g (1,5oz circa) roughly crushed pistacchi for garnish

prepare the couscous following the direction. (for quick cooking ones, immerse in about 300ml of boiling water, cover and let it stand for at least 5 minutes, for this cake, a bit more)
Flake the cous cous well to get rid of big lumps.
In a good sized bowl, beat together the eggs and the melted butter, then mix in the couscous, blend together well.
In anoter large bowl, beat together the chopped mozzarella, ricotta, 40g of honey, cinnamon and vanilla, until the mixture become smooth and thickly creamy.
In a buttered cake pan (about 27cm/10-11inch) lay down the half of the couscous mixture evenly. Then cover with the cheese mixture, then top with the rest of the couscous, spreading it out evenly.
Bake it in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F for 20minutes. Let it cool.
In a small saucepan, mix the honey, saffran and water, let it boil for 7 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and mix in the orange flower water.
Let the syrup cool slightly, then pour evenly over the cake. Garnish the top with pistacchi.