An Egyptian table is not complete without something sweet at the end. Egyptian desserts have become as loved in Saudi Arabia as Egyptian food, and three lead the way: Om Ali, rice pudding and kunafa.
Om Ali: the warm dessert
Om Ali is baked pastry soaked in hot milk with cream, nuts and sometimes raisins, browned in the oven. It is eaten warm, which is why it is so popular in winter.
The best-known popular tale credits the name to «Om Ali», wife of the Mamluk sultan Ezz El-Din Aybak, said to have made it to celebrate. It is a popular story rather than confirmed history, but it has become part of the dish.
Rice pudding: simplicity
Rice pudding is among the simplest and most comforting desserts: Egyptian rice cooked in milk with sugar, sometimes rose water or vanilla, topped with cinnamon, pistachios or cream. Eaten cold or warm, it is the lightest sweet after a heavy meal.
Kunafa: the star of Ramadan
Kunafa is a fine, thread-like pastry browned in ghee until crisp, filled with cream or nuts and finished with syrup. It is the star of Ramadan in Egypt, and newer versions such as mango kunafa have appeared. Torn between them? Read mango kunafa or kunafa with cream?.
Which to choose?
| If you want | Try |
|---|---|
| Something warm in winter | Om Ali |
| Something light after a heavy meal | Rice pudding |
| The classic crisp taste | Kunafa with cream |
| Something fresh | Mango kunafa |
Egyptian sweets at Rokn Warda
At Rokn Warda in Al Khobar you will find Om Ali (baked pastry with milk, cream and nuts, served warm), rice pudding (creamy, topped with cream and pistachios), kunafa with cream and mango kunafa. Order them with your meal from the menu for delivery in Al Khobar and Dammam, or end your meal with them in our dining room. More in Egyptian food in Saudi Arabia.
