Kataifi Easter Nests
Kataifi Easter Nests
Well, I know I’m a bit late for Easter, but I just had to share these little nests with you. Last week I was feeling in the mood to create a tasty chocolate treat for Easter. My brain wandered through a number of ideas before it settled on these Kataifi nests. I had bought a package of Kataifi in Greek Town a few months back and it was languishing in my freezer, waiting for the perfect occasion. I’m so glad that I did wait because these were a huge hit with my family, old and young alike! I used Cadbury mini eggs which boast a solid chocolate centre, but you could change this up with any other kinds of eggs you have hanging around your cupboard. For that matter, this recipe is a great excuse to use up any of the left-over Easter eggs you may still have.
For those of you unfamiliar with this Greek specialty, Kataifi is a shredded pastry that is packaged in long strands. It can be found in the freezer section of any Greek Deli or in any well-stocked grocery store, usually found next to the filo dough. It is highly versatile and can be used to make sweet or savoury dishes. I will be honest with you – this was the first time I had ever used this dough. After a couple of Youtube videos, I felt confident enough to tackle it, and guess what? It worked! I will most definitely use this pastry again.
I am bringing a huge platter of Kataifi nests over to Fiesta Friday this week. Hopefully the gang isn’t too tired of Easter eggs and will enjoy one or two more. We are whooping it up over at Angie’s new digs – FiestaFriday.net. My good buddy Hilda (of Along the Grapevine), and I have the pleasure of being your co-hosts this week. If you haven’t joined us before and aren’t too sure what to do, here are the guidelines. To join us all you have to do is click on the link below and then jump in and enjoy yourself. Be sure to stop by the other guests’ sites to like and comment till your hearts’ content.
Kataifi Easter Nests
Ingredients:
½ pound kataifi pastry
½ pound unsalted butter, clarified
1 cup chocolate chips
48 mini eggs
1 cup sweetened coconut
food colours
Method:
Preheat oven to 375°.
To clarify butter, cut into chunks and place in saucepan over medium high. As butter melts, skim milk solids from the saucepan. Place clarified butter into a large bowl.
Shred the kataifi into smaller pieces (about 4 – 5 inches long), and place into the bowl with the butter. Incorporate the butter into the pastry using your hands. Do this gently enough so as not to crush the pastry.
Place a small handful of pastry into medium muffin tins. Press the pastry firmly to the shape of the muffin tin.
Bake the pastry at for 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler over medium high heat. Place approximately 1 tablespoon melted chocolate into each of the pastry shells. Add 4 mini eggs to each tart shell.
To colour the shredded coconut, place ¼ cup of coconut into a small bowl. Add 1 drop of colour combined with ¼ teaspoon water. Mix the coconut and colour well, to incorporate.
Top each tart with one or two colours of coconut. Serve at room temperature.
The whole family will love them!
Here’s what to look for at the grocery store.
Foodie On Board 
45 Responses to “Kataifi Easter Nests”
Gasp! I’m here putting the finishing touches to our FF63 and who but my reliable co-host arriving super early! With these adorable Easter nests! So making these, even though it’s after Easter. I have kataifi left over from another project! Thanks, Julianna! 🙂
Well, I never want to let you down, Angie! Let me know if you try these little nests. I was so happy with the results! I think they will become a tradition in our family!
By the way – the “party hall” is taking shape! Happy FF to you, my friend! 😀
These egg nests are gorgeous. I did not know you can find kataifi at regular grocery stores. I’m going to look for it. Thank you! 🙂
Glad you like them, Fae! I really hope your stores have the kataifi. I may have just been lucky to have found it. Have a great weekend!
These came out so cute!
Thanks Julie! I was pretty happy with them.
Those are so pretty!
Thanks so very much, Hilda!
Love this! You are so incredibly creative 🙂
Aww, thanks! It was just a happy creative moment! 🙂
These are so adorable, Chef Julianna. ❤
Hey Jhuls! Thanks so much! I figured you would like them…they are sweet and tasty!
These are so adorable! 😍
Thanks a bunch, Sonal!
Just in time for Orthodox Easter! Adorable!
Oh, I knew they would be in time for someone! Yeahhh! 😀
They are absolutely stunning! You are such a gifted baker, I might have to use the next 12 months practising to get those nests ready for next Easter …
Thanks for hosting FF63!
You are so kind! I chuckled, because I never think of myself as a baker! But I will take your kind comment to heart! These are super easy and I promise you that you don’t need that much time to master them! Happy FF! 😀
[…] sharing my Lebanese platter with all my friends at Angie’s Fiesta Friday being co-hosted by Chef Julianna@Foodie on Board and Hilda@Along the Grapevine! Come join […]
They look amazing! Enjoy Fiesta Friday xx
Hey, thanks so much, Elaine! Happy FF to you too! 😀
Lovely looking nests Chef julianna!!! Never too late to share something so pretty … Thanks for sharing and for the info on the pastry too! And also thanks for co-hosting FF! 🙂
Hey, thanks so much, Lili! Always happy to share with my buddies at FF! 😀
These are so cute Julianna 🙂 Thank you for co-hosting FF 😀
Thanks Linda! Happy FF to you! 😀
Oh such beautiful nests, I don’t believe I’ve heard of that pastry before, but they sure turned out super!
Thanks Loretta! Isn’t this just the best part of FF and blogging? I have learned so many new things! Happy that I could introduce you to Kataifi! Have a great weekend… 😀
What a fantastic idea! These nests are great inspiration for next year too!
Hehe! Yes, that gives us a lot of time to practice! 😉
How fun is this! Getting to play with our food- priceless. Thanks for hosting Fiesta Friday.
Be well,
Tracey
Thanks so much, Tracey! That is exactly how I thought of this – playing with my food. But it is so very much fun! 🙂
What an adorable looking dessert, perfect for Easter and fun to serve, thanks for sharing Julianna!
Thanks Lily! Isn’t it great to have fun with our food?
So happy to share! 😀
Woweeeee this is just eye catching. … perfect for the celebration…
Haha! You have put me in the mood to party, Chitra! Race you to the table!! 😉
What fun Julianna – I have never heard of this dough but like many others it is on my shopping list. My family will love it just like yours did 🙂 Thanks for co-hosting this week and Happy FF!
Hey, Judi! I know that you family will really love this! It is so much fun and is so very versatile! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! 😀
They are so cute Julianna…. I saw this dough in a few recipes, it’s very intriguing….
Thanks Margy! You are so creative, that I know you could do something very cool with this pastry! 😀
These nests are so cute! I was wanting to make something like this too for Easter, but I ran out of time! Maybe next year… 🙂
Leave yourself a reminder to do this, because I know they would be a great hit! 🙂
I am SO intrigued by kataifi pastry, Julianna. I don’t even know this kind of dough exists, and I am so glad you introduce me to it. I can’t wait to try it.
As for the presentation, ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ it
You are too sweet, Pang! Thanks so much for your lovely comment! I really hope that you get a chance to try out this pastry, because it is so much fun to work with and has so many possibilities! Have a lovely weekend! 😀
[…] the creative juices are flowing! After I made my first batch of Kataifi baskets I could not stop thinking about the possibilities of this new (for me) ingredient. I felt a bit […]
I am a few weeks late, but these little egg nests are gorgeous! 🙂