Egyptian Bread Pudding (Om Ali) with Raisins and Nuts

Om Ali is the ultimate bread pudding. With origins from the middle east, this version bursting with raisins, dried apricots, pistachios, cardamon and so much more! Sponsored by Sun-Maid Raisins.

I admit it. I have a bit of a sweet tooth. Actually, I love good food. Something amazing happens when I bite into a scrumptious dish filled with flavors and aromas from all over the world. And a dish that can transport you to a faraway place? Now that’s a dreamy treat.

As far as desserts are concerned, I have never been much of a fan for bread pudding. They are typically bland, sugary and mushy. But today’s recipe takes the bread pudding to a whole new dimension. This bread pudding hails from Egypt and is called Om Ali.

Bread pudding comes from humble origins. It was a way to use up old stale bread instead of throwing it out and letting it go to waste. It was always thought of a “poor man’s” dessert, but today you can find it on the dessert menus of 5-star restaurants. Not too shabby, am I right?

When you think of bread pudding, perhaps you imagine the British version: stale pieces of cubed bread soaked and baked in a custard served alone or with fresh fruit. Om Ali is very similar, except it uses puff pastry instead of stale bread. Oh yeah, this is not your typical bread pudding.

The story behind Om Ali is a bit illustrious. As the legendary story goes, Om Ali was the first wife of the Sultan Ezz El Din Aybek. When the sultan died, his second wife quarreled with Om Ali over whose son would become the Sultan’s successor. The sultan’s sons were still young, making the ruling son’s mother guardian and all powerful until the young boy would come of age and become sultan himself.

The story goes that Om Ali plotted and had the second wife killed. Om Ali made this dish to celebrate her victory and she shared it with among the people of the land. Kinda reminds me of Marie Antoinette shouting, “Let them eat cake!”

Whether you believe this wild story or not, believe me – this bread pudding is pretty decadent and delicious. The cream is spiced with cinnamon and cardamon. Within the layers of torn puff pastry you’ll find pistachios, walnuts almonds, raisins, dried apricots and dried rose petals. Like I told you, this is no ordinary bread pudding.

This dessert is super easy to put together, but no one will believe you. They will be too busy savoring every morsel of this Om Ali, enjoying their exotic trip to the middle east. So get your culinary passport ready and enjoy the journey.

Egyptian Bread Pudding (Om Ali) with Raisins and Nuts

Author:

Laura Bashar | Family Spice

Om Ali is the ultimate bread pudding. With origins from the middle east, this version bursting with raisins, dried apricots, pistachios, cardamon and so much more!

Ingredients:

• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry dough, thawed (1.1 lbs)
• 1/3 cup shelled pistachios, chopped
• 1/3 cup almond slices
• 1/3 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
• 1/2 cup Sun-Maid raisins
• 1/2 cup Sun-Maid dried apricots
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tsp (separated)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 tsp dried rose petals, crushed (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF. Place onto one large baking sheet lined with silicone baking mat:
• 2 sheets frozen puff pastry dough, thawed (1.1 lbs)
2. If they do not fit on one baking sheet, you will need to bake on two baking sheets or bake one at a time.
3. Bake until puff pastry is golden, about 10 minutes. Let puff pastry sit until cool to touch.
4. In a small bowl combine:
• 1/3 cup shelled pistachios, chopped
• 1/3 cup almond slices
• 1/3 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
• 1/2 cup Sun-Maid raisins
• 1/2 cup Sun-Maid dried apricots
5. Apply non-stick spray or butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch ceramic pie dish or casserole dish. Rip and crumble puff pastry into 1-inch pieces.
6. Place approximately one-third of the puff pastry pieces onto the bottom of the pie dish. Sprinkle one-third of the nut-fruit mixture over it.
7. Continue layering the puff pastry pieces and dried fruit mixture until everything is in the pie dish.
8. Whip together in a cold bowl until stiff peaks are formed:
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp sugar
9. Reserve whipped cream.
10. In a heavy pot over medium-high heat add:
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
11. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and milk is hot and frothy.
12. Slowly pour the hot milk over the puff pastry pieces until all is absorbed.
13. Carefully spread half of the whipped cream over the top. Keep remaining whipped cream in the refrigerator.
14. Bake in oven at 400ºF until browned and bubbly, approximately 10 minutes.
15. Garnish with:
• 1/2 tsp dried rose petals, crushed (optional)
16. Serve hot with the remaining whipped cream.

Prep Time: 15 mins

Yield: serves 8-10

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

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Disclosure: I did receive a stipend from Sun-Maid Raisins to develop a heart healthy recipe using their raisins. The story I have written is all true, and the opinions are truly mine. If I didn’t like it, I wouldn’t blog about it.