Umm Ali (Egyptian Home-Style Bread & Puff Pastry Pudding)

Ingredients

Contains gluten, dairy, tree-nut. Cooking for an allergy? Check the label on every packet you use — brands differ, and we can only tell you what the recipe calls for.

Method

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

2. 2

   Roll the puff pastry lightly if needed and cut or tear into rough 2–3 cm pieces; toss the pieces with 30 g melted butter and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet.

3. 3

   Bake the pastry pieces until puffed and golden; remove and let cool briefly.

   15 min
4. 4

   While the pastry bakes, warm a dry skillet over medium heat and toast the slivered almonds, chopped pistachios and desiccated coconut (if using) until fragrant and just colored, shaking or stirring so they don't burn.

   5 min
5. 5

   Measure 60 ml of the whole milk into a small bowl and whisk in the cornstarch to make a smooth slurry.

6. 6

   In a medium saucepan combine the remaining milk, heavy cream (if using), sugar, vanilla, ground cinnamon and a pinch of salt and bring just to a gentle simmer over medium heat.

   6 min
7. 7

   Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the simmering milk and cook, whisking, until the mixture thickens slightly into a loose custard that coats the back of a spoon.

   3 min
8. 8

   Turn off the heat and let the hot milk mixture sit 1 minute to settle.

   1 min
9. 9

   In a large mixing bowl combine the baked pastry pieces, raisins (if using) and half of the toasted nuts and coconut.

10. 10

    Immediately pour the hot milk mixture over the pastry and nuts and toss gently so the pieces soak but retain some texture.

    2 min
11. 11

    Butter a 9x13-inch (or similar) baking dish, transfer the mixture into the dish and spread into an even layer.

12. 12

    Scatter the remaining toasted nuts and coconut over the top and brush the surface lightly with the remaining melted butter.

13. 13

    Bake the assembled pudding until the top is golden and the milk mixture is bubbling at the edges.

    18 min
14. 14

    Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes so it firms slightly before serving warm.

    10 min