Om Ali
Om Ali, which literally means Ali's mother, is wrapped in a dark 13th-century legend tied to the rivalry between the wives of Mamluk sultan Aybak. It's said that Om Ali, the sultan's first wife, commissioned this dessert to celebrate the killing of her rival, Shajar al-Durr, a former slave who became sultana — the story remains part of Egyptian culinary folklore, even if historians debate its exact accuracy. Regardless of its legendary origin, the dessert reflects the practical genius of Egyptian cuisine for turning leftover bread or pastry into something festive, using widely available ingredients — milk, nuts and dried fruit. Today, Om Ali is a staple at Ramadan meals and family celebrations, often cooked in large quantities to be shared with guests.
Torn puff pastry
Baked puff pastry sheets torn into pieces, instead of stale bread.
Milk with cream
Hot milk with heavy cream, which soaks the pastry without dissolving it.
Mixed nuts
Almonds, hazelnuts, raisins and coconut sprinkled generously.
Broiled finish
Finished under the broiler for a crisp golden top.
Ingredients 4 servings
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry (500g)
- 1.5 liters whole milk
- 300ml heavy cream
- 150g sugar
- 100g sliced almonds
- 100g chopped hazelnuts
- 80g raisins
- 50g shredded coconut
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- A pinch of cinnamon
How to make it
- 1BAKE PASTRY: Bake the puff pastry sheet at 200°C for 20-25 minutes, until golden and crisp, then let cool.
- 2TEAR PASTRY: Tear the baked pastry into irregular, walnut-sized pieces and place them in an oven-safe dish.
- 3PREPARE MILK: Boil the milk with the cream and sugar over medium heat, stirring, until the sugar fully dissolves, without a strong boil.
- 4FLAVOR: Add the vanilla and cinnamon to the milk, stir.
- 5POUR: Pour the hot milk over the torn pastry, making sure all the pieces soak in.
- 6ADD NUTS: Sprinkle the almonds, hazelnuts, raisins and coconut evenly on top.
- 7BROIL: Place the dish under the oven's broiler for 5-8 minutes, until the surface turns golden and slightly crisp.
- 8SERVE: Serve warm, straight from the dish.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
