Dubai chocolate: the prestigious dessert that has taken the world by storm

Dubai chocolate: who invented it and what makes it so special?

Dubai Chocolate was created in 2021 by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian entrepreneur and founder of Fix Dessert Chocolatier. She wanted to combine unique textures and flavours to create a filling that would stand out from the competition.

Her inspiration for creating Dubai chocolate came from her pregnancy craving for a combination of chocolate and pistachio. The chocolate was initially sold under the name ''Can''t Get Knafeh of It'' and the company still sells it under that name. It is a modern version of a traditional Middle Eastern dessert.

However, Dubai chocolate first gained popularity on 18 December 2023, when influencer Maria Vehera,who posted a video on the TikTok online platform in which she tried different Fix Dessert Chocolatier chocolates, including Dubai chocolate.

The video caused a huge surge in demand, and the chocolatier received as many as 30 thousand orders in a few days, briefly causing the delivery platform they were using at the time to collapse. A year later, the video had already garnered over 100 million views and since then we have seen countless videos recreating, testing or reviewing duplicates of Dubai Chocolate.

What makes Dubai Chocolate so special? Ingredients and combinations

To really get to know Dubai chocolate, you need to know the three important ingredients that give it its special taste:

Pistachio: this popular nut is the star of this chocolate. It gives the dessert its full nutty flavour and familiar bright green colour. Whether it contains smooth pistachio spread or crunchy pieces, pistachio is a must for a real treat.

Tahini: not very strong, but essential for real Dubai chocolate. It balances the sweetness and adds a little spicy, slightly bitter flavour. This paste of sesame seeds gives dubai chocolate a unique depth that makes it different from the usual sweet treats.

Kataifi: this is a crumbled pastry that is fried to a golden colour and that intoxicating crunch. This is the key to the crunchiness, which offers an interesting contrast with the smooth chocolate and creamy pistachio spread.

Kadaif - a traditional Middle Eastern dessert

I''m sure you''ve been asking yourself "What is a kadaif?" since the Dubai craze began.

Kadaif, also known as kataifi or knafeh, is a traditional confection dating back to the Ottoman Empire, but nowadays it is particularly popular in the Middle East, the Balkans and Greece.

Historically, the kadaif was popular in the Ottoman courts, where it was prepared as a prestigious dessert on feasts and special occasions. Today, it is often found as part of festive menus, especially during Ramadan and other important festivals.

It is made from typically thin noodles of wheat flour, which are then used to prepare desserts and cakes. It is most often combined with nuts, butter and sugar syrup to make a crunchy but savoury dessert. It can also be found in savoury versions with cheese and meat.

In Greece it is known as kataifi and is filled with walnuts or almonds and then soaked in honey syrup. The Arabic version, kunafa, includes sweet cheese and a topping of orange water or rose.

Why is the price of Dubai chocolate so high?

Because Dubai chocolate usually contains high quality ingredients and premium chocolate, the price is much higher than regular chocolate. Also, in most cases, shipping costs have to be taken into account - especially if it is authentic Dubai chocolate.

Even if you buy chocolate that is only modelled on the original, it is more expensive than regular chocolate desserts. Because a lot of work and chocolate-making know-how goes into creating this multi-faceted treat.

You can also create your own Dubai chocolate

If you''re feeling the Dubai chocolate fever, here''s a recipe you can use to make Dubai chocolate at home. You don''t need much, and to make it even easier, we''ve also prepared a BAM Dubai Chocolate Pack that contains all the key ingredients you need.

Recipe for Dubai Chocolate:

INGREDIENTS:

• 75g kataifi dough, chopped
• 30g butter
• 180g BAM pistachio spread
• 20g tahini
• Thick pinch of salt
• 15g BAM ruby chocolate
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 15g BAM golden chocolate
• 250 g BAM dark chocolate

PREPARATION:

1. First, prepare the kataifi filling in a large saucepan. If you have a smaller pan, we recommend you do this in two parts, and cut the butter and kataifi in half and prepare them separately so that they are fully toasted. Melt the butter over a medium heat and add the kataifi batter, breaking it up as you add it. Fry the kataifi well all over.
2. The whole pastry will fry for about 10 minutes. This is very important to ensure crispiness. In a large bowl, mix the pistachio spread, tahini and salt, then add the kataifi.
3. Place the chocolate mould on a flat surface (this can also be a normal plastic bowl). Melt the pink chocolate in one bowl, then stir in the coconut oil.
4. Using a teaspoon, lightly pour the chocolate over the mould and make a pattern. Do the same with the golden chocolate, melt it and mix it with the coconut oil, then spread it over the pink chocolate. Let it harden in the fridge.
5. Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave until smooth. Spoon it into the mould, making sure to cover the sides. Place in the fridge and allow to set.
6. Spoon the kataifi-pistachio mixture into the mould and smooth evenly with a spatula. Spoon over the remaining chocolate and smooth with a spatula. Allow to set completely. Then remove it from the mould. Have a good run!
7. If you are one of the more adventurous ones and want to make your own kadaif at home, we have also prepared a recipe for kadaif. Although the kadaif recipe requires some patience, it is definitely worth the effort.

Recipe for kadaif

INGREDIENTS:

• 55 g plain flour
• 40 g cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 110 ml of water
• 1/2 tbsp BAM olive oil

PREPARATION:

1. Mix the flour, cornstarch and salt in a bowl.
2. Slowly add the water and oil and stir until you have a completely smooth and thick liquid batter (similar to pancake batter).
3. If you do not have a special kadaif machine, you can use a plastic grocery bag. Make a small hole in one corner of the bag to squeeze the batter through.
4. Heat a frying pan with a non-stick coating over a low heat.
5. Spray the dough evenly over the hot surface in thin lines to form long strands.
6. Allow the dough to dry (about 30 seconds).
7. Carefully remove the dough strands from the pan and place them on a plate. Leave to cool completely.
8. The kadaif can be used immediately or stored in a dry place.

If you love pistachio, see also our recipe for Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake or Tiramisu Balls with Pistachio Spread.