Amar al deen pudding, also known as kamar al deen or qamar aldeen mohalabeya, is an irresistible apricot pudding, creamy, fragrant and sweetened to your perfection. One of the most famous Ramadan food recipes.
Qamar al deen is a guest that shows up in many different forms on the iftar table during the month of Ramadan. With Ramadan almost two weeks from now, I feel it is time to introduce you to this lovely pudding. I've showed you before how to make the paste and the drink now it is pudding time.
I love apricot, but I do not know why it is hard to find delicious, sweet and fragrant ones anymore . All the apricot I find tastes more like cucumber 😏 . I remember back in the old days, mom used to buy apricot that is literally dropping sugary juice out of it. They were so delicious that it does not survive until the next day.
The best amar eddeen paste is always made in Syria, they are the best and the largest producer and exporter to this delicious apricot roll ups. You can spot it easily in most Middle Eastern stores, but you can make it yourself. When my mom was making this dish back in the old days, me and my sisters used to tear off parts of the leather and eat it. Although I did not like the drink that much, I used to love eating the paste as is.
This pudding is based on making the juice out of the paste then make the pudding, but if this is too much for you, then you can make it out of any good quality apricot juice. The only problem I personally face when doing this is that the store bought drinks are usually not as concentrated and flavored as the juice made out of the apricot paste, and of course you'll need to adjust the sugar amount.
Let me show you all about this simple recipe.
Pour most of qamar adeen drink in a deep pot over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil.
Stir cornstarch in the remaining juice.
Pour over the hot juice in the pot and quickly stir until it thickens. Remove from heat and pour into serving bowls.
Decorate with nuts and coconut flakes or serve plain, sometimes it is also decorated with raisins. Most pudding style dishes in the middle east are thickened using cornstarch or flour we do not use any eggs in the pudding we make.
Tangy and sweet, so delicious mohalabeya (pudding). So refreshing especially when served cold.
Related Recipes
- Kunafa is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that is made with a layer of golden shredded phyllo dough, a creamy filling, and a sweet syrup. A popular dessert in many countries that is often served during special occasions and holidays.
I hope you'll like this recipe and if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry, I love to see your creations onFacebook, Twitter!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of ready made qamar addeen juice.
- 2 Tablespoon cornstarch.
- Nuts and coconut flakes for garnishing , optional.
Instructions
- In a deep pot over medium heat, pour 1 ¾ cups of the juice and bring to gentle boil.
- Meanwhile, dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining ¼ cup of juice until no lumps are visible.
- Reduce heat to medium low, gradually add the corn starch mixture whisking continuously.
- Let it simmer until thickened, usually takes 3 minutes.
- Pour in serving plates and garnish with nuts.
- Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
Sign up and learn more about Mediterranean flavors
Would you like to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Urodoc
Interesting and delicious
Amira
Thank you, happy you liked it.
Dr. O'Leary
Any other recipes that utilize the apricot paste?
Amira
You can make Cheese cake withit. Make your regular Cheese cake then after it is done in the oven and has cooled down make a thicker version of this pudding and spread it over the cheese cake. Refrigerate until firm. You might want to make something like this parfait
with shredded phyllo and use this pudding instead of the vanilla one.
Dr. O'Leary
How do you make the 2 cups of ready made qamar addeen juice? I was given authentic Apricot paste by a student, but I have no idea how to make the juice?
Amira
Dr. O'Leary, here is how you make the drink from the paste. You can also use apricot juice
Nancy McDonald
I love almost anything made with apricots and I agree good ones are hard to find.
One of the reasons you cannot find good apricots is the varieties that are grown commercially are the kind that transport well.. The good soft ones do not and the only way to get them is to grown them yourself. one of the best varieties grown here in So Cal is the Blenheim (Royal) Apricot.
I had one when I lived in Rowland Heights and it had the best apricots.. I made Apricot butter one year and it tasted like you were eating fresh apricots out of the jar...My neighbor dried them one year and they were some of the best dried apricots I have ever eaten... Trader Joes carries Slab dried Blenheim Apricots although they sometimes run out and you have to wait until the next crop of them...
hildasterner
This looks delicious! I was born in Iraq and I've never had this before. I'll have to definitely give it a try. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to checking out your other recipes too!
Amira
Hilda, good to know you dear and thanks for stopping by. This paste is so popular in the Middle east and the best comes from Syria. I hope you'll try it.
Karen
I agree with you, fruit isn't as sweet as it used to be, I think they are picking it too soon. Your pudding looks so very flavorful.
Amira
Hmm may be this is the reason, but why they do so? Is it of any benefit to the producer? Thanks Karen for your comment, I hope you'll try it soon.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth
I love Qamardeen! And that reminds me that I haven't got my stock for this Ramadan yet... the folks at home aren't really a fan of it though, but still I make it atleast once... hehe... Must try converting into pudding, the recipe is really easy...
Amira
Ooooh Rafeeda it is sooo good, I still cannot believe I did not like qamar el deen as a kid. Some people also combine it with vanilla muhalabeya so you have a white layer in the bottom and ana orange layer on the top yummmm.
Evelyne CulturEatz
I would love to try this pudding, make it a summer month staple. You are so right some fruits you just cannot find nice and sweetly ripe anymore. Like nectarines, can't rmeber the last good one I had.
Sommer
I can't wait to try this! It looks perfect for Ramadan. Thank you so much Amira, your blog is my favorite ever.
Could you do roz bil laban next?
Amira
Sommer, you have no idea how I want to perfect this recipe. I have a friend here who makes the creamiest most delicious roz bel laban. Actually hers reminds me so much of a famous shop in Egypt. I am waiting to perfect her recipe and make it easier as she has to stand right next to her stove for more than three hours to make it :), this is kitchen slavery by all means hehehehehe.
Mona
Thank you!!
Amira
Mons, thank you for your dear for following, I hope you'll like it.