COUSCOUS KADAIF DESSERT WITH MY OWN TWIST!

 I have a middle eastern cook book and I've been eyeing this one dessert dish for some time.   It looks so yummy.   But I'm going to put my own spin on it. This is a very mild dessert.
  However I will provide the original recipe, because I'm going to be really altering it and you might not what to.
 If you have extra Orange Ricotta cheese filling please don't get rid of it.  I will be blogging about a simple breakfast idea.  ;)    

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cup of Couscous.
2 1/4 cups boiling water.
1 cup butter ---------------------leave butter out
1 egg------------------------------leave out egg.
1 3/4 cups ricotta cheese-------only add 1/2 cup.
7 oz mozzarella cheese-------- Leave out.
1 1/2 clear honey--------------------- 1/2 cup
2-3 pinches of saffron----------- Add 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
1/2 cups water-----------------leave out.
1 tsp orange flower water-----------optional.
6 tablespoons chopped Pistachios.
Additional ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
Avocado.  Use a 1 large avocado.
 1 cup shredded coconut
Recipe for Orange gravy is provided below. 

You will nee a pie dish of any kind, round is good.

FIRST:
Put 1 1/2 cup couscous in a bowl, add 2 1/4 cups boiling water to it and let rest for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile cut the avocado in half and smash add 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and turmeric.    When the 30 minutes is up use a spoon to loosen up the couscous and add the avocado mixture to it.   Keep on mixing it in until it has a nice even light green color.
 Now divide the couscous in half and put 1/2 of it in the glass dish.  I used a glass apple pie dish and it work just fine.  Press the couscous down firmly into the pie dish and set a side.

SECOND: Recipe for Orange gravy filling.

INGREDIENTS
DO NOT HEAT UP THE FRUIT JUICE.
Attention do not add the sugar until the gravy is done.
2 Tablespoons of butter. 
3 to 4 table spoons of flour
1 cup of fresh squeezed fruit juice. 
Tablespoons of water (as needed)
1/2 cup sugar

Melt the butter in a pan on low. Watch it so it does not burn. Towards the end  I turn off the burner, lift the pan off the burner and swish it around.  Now add a tablespoon of flour at a time to the melted butter and mix it in with a whisk until it forms little balls of dough.  Don't worry if they don't look perfect. 
 
Turn the pan with the butter dough to med high, and pour in a little bit of the juice.  Whisk away.  Now it's going to look like it's not mixing together, but keep whisking until the mixture has the consistency of mash potatoes.  Yeah I know it sounds weird.  But as soon as it looks like mash potatoes add your next pour of liquid.   Watch out it may spit and spatter.  
Whisk again and keep whisking until it look smooth and mash potato like. 
The consistency should be thick creamy and a little gel like.  When you have the right consistency mix in the sugar.   

Now in a separate bowl add 1 cup of Orange gravy, 1 cup of ricotta cheese and 1/2 cup honey mix together.   Now add a generous layer of ricotta orange filling to the compressed couscous in the glass dish.

Next add the shredded coconut by sprinkling it over the top of the filling, until their is a nice layer. 

Now very carefully add the remaining couscous, using your finger to gently spread it out and make a layer over the coconut.  Do not press too hard, but press lightly. 

Chop the Pistachios with a large knife and sprinkle over the top of the Kadaif.  

Now in the main recipe is ask you to put this under the broiler at 200 degrees for 10 to 15 to create a crust.  My stove broiler is located at the bottom in a slot enough to fit a slice of toast.   uhg....  so not broiling the top of mine.   So if you have a broiler, broil away.   

Have fun with this one. ;)    I sure did.  yummmy.   This goes really well with coffee and tea.