Burma Kadayıf

Burma Kadayıf is a Turkish pastry made by twisting long strands of shredded kadayıf dough around a filling of ground walnuts, sugar, and a hint of cinnamon, then baking it in shallow trays, pouring hot clarified butter over the top, and finishing with a lemon-scented sugar syrup. The result is a golden, crisp cylinder of caramelized dough with a crunchy nut core, served in thick slices as a tea-time dessert.

The name burma (twisted) refers to the way the dough strands are wound around the filling to form a rope, which is then coiled into the baking tray. The dessert is especially associated with Bursa, where the Teferrüç and Cumalıkızık villages have produced kadayıf since the Ottoman period, and with Gaziantep and Antakya, where pistachio and walnut fillings are prized. In Istanbul, the pastry is sold at the Karaköy and Eminönü sweet shops and at confectioners along İstiklal Caddesi.

Eat Burma Kadayıf with a glass of Turkish tea, a cup of strong coffee, or a scoop of Maraş ice cream. The leading brands — Karaköy Güllüoğlu, Faruk Güllüoğlu, and Köşemeroğlu in Bursa — distribute across Turkey and to Turkish grocery stores worldwide. At home it is made for Ramadan iftar tables, religious holidays, and family gatherings.