Umm ali (Ali's Mother) is a scrumptios dessert from Egypt. Itis compared to bread pudding. I like to serve it with a little dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 package of frozen puff pastry (17 ounces)
1 15 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
3 cups water
1/2 cup cream
3/4 cup pistachios, shelled, chopped
1/2 cup pine nuts
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 - 3/4 cups coconut flakes (depending on taste)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll puff pastry sheets and place on greased baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. You want the puff pastry to be golden and puffed. Remove from oven. Do not turn oven off; you will be using it in a few minutes with the same temp.

Break puff pastry into small pieces (about 1-2 inches. Add nuts and coconut and be sure that they are mixed well and evenly distributed. Place nuts and bread in greased 9x12 baking dish.

In a saucepan, heat sweetened milk, vanilla, and water on medium heat. Allow to cook for about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat then allow to cool.

Pour milk over puff pastry/nut mixture. Pour creme on top and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.

Serve warm.

By Saad Fayed, About.com

Hello Ronin,

That’s really nice,
you know Om Ali is my favorite dessert. I like it so much especially in Ramadan I usually go to El-Hussein and eat it there, they present it with different shapes and sometimes with ice-cream and lots of raisins and nuts…it’s really delicious although I have to walk for an hour after this dish but actually can’t overcome it .

Warm Regrads

The best one I had was in Alexandria, can't remember the name of the place but it was on the cornice, a small ice cream parlour and it was packed.

I have tried this dish in other parts of Egypt but always seem to be different, and not like the one in Alexandria.

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