Layali Lubnan
 A tray of Layali Lubnan | |
| Alternative names | Beirut nights |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Lebanon |
| Region or state | Levant |
| Associated cuisine | Lebanese cuisine |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Semolina, milk, sugar, rose water, orange blossom water, cream |
| Variations | Garnished with nuts, banana slices, or whipped cream |
Layali Lubnan (Arabic: ليالي لبنان, lit. 'Nights of Lebanon'), also called Qashtalia (Arabic: قشطلية), is a Lebanese dessert. It is made from a layer of semolina pudding that is scented with orange blossom water and rose water, a second layer on top made from qishta, and topped with ground pistachios, honey or qatir.[1][2][3]
Name
[edit]The origin of the name "Lebanese nights" is unknown.[4]
Different names for the dish are used, such as Beirut nights.[1] Different spellings and pronunciations are also common, like Layali Libnan,[5] Ashtalieh,[6] or Qashtaliyeh (Arabic: قشطلية).[7]
Preparation
[edit]The dish consists of a layer of semolina pudding, usually prepared by boiling milk, semolina, and rose water together in a pan, sometimes gum arabic is added,[6] the mixture is poured into a tray and left to cool, a second layer of qishta is then prepared and added on top of the first layer after it had cooled.[8][4][5]
After the pudding is done, the dessert is topped with nuts, pistachios, qatir, and sometimes rose petals.[8]
The dish is refrigerated before serving.[5]
Popularity
[edit]Layali Lubnan is one of the most common made-at-home desserts in Lebanon, its often made to celebrate holidays and special occasions.[3][6][7]
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Pascale's Kitchen: Lebanese cuisine | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Amid soaring inflation, Lebanese look for cheaper alternatives to traditional Ramadan desserts". Arab News. 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ a b Jawad, Yumna (8 February 2025). "Layali Lubnan (Semolina Pudding)". Feel Good Foodie. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ a b Assil, Reem (2022). "LAYALI LUBNAN". Arabiyya: Recipes from the Life of an Arab in Diaspora [a Cookbook]. New York: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale. p. 259. ISBN 9781984859082.
- ^ a b c Salah, Maha (16 October 2016). "Layali libnan". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Dekmak, Hussien (5 Jun 2015). "Ashtalieh Cream Pudding Recipe | Bakepedia". Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ a b "«المغلي» و«القشطلية» و«أم علي» حلويات الأعياد في لبنان". aawsat.com (in Arabic). 28 Dec 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ a b Hasanzadenemati, Shadi. "Layali Lubnan". Food Network. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
