Umm Ali Bread Pudding

By
Anita Schecter
Anita Schecter_BW
Anita Schecter
Professional recipe developer, food photographer, and blogger with more than a decade of experience creating Middle Eastern recipes.
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Updated on 05/4/22
Umm Ali bread pudding

Miansari66 / Wikimedia Commons

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
828 Calories
53g Fat
77g Carbs
16g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 828
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 53g 67%
Saturated Fat 14g 71%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 366mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 77g 28%
Dietary Fiber 4g 15%
Total Sugars 44g
Protein 16g
Vitamin C 2mg 12%
Calcium 260mg 20%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 574mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Umm Ali, also called om Ali (translated to Ali's Mother) is a national dish of Egypt. This scrumptious dessert is a Middle Eastern version of bread pudding and is often served with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top. Unlike American bread puddings, which typically use stale bread that's first soaked in a sweet liquid, umm Ali uses freshly baked puff pastry for an extra level of deliciousness.

The dish itself has a long history involving conspiracy and generally poor behavior among the ancient rulers. But it has survived after all these centuries as a very popular dessert. In Egypt, the pudding is actually more likely to be made with buffalo milk instead of condensed milk but the two flavor profiles are similar. Ingredients like the puff pastry, nuts and dairy are always used but beyond that, there are many variations to be found.

Ingredients

  • 1 package frozen puff pastry, about 17 ounces

  • 1 (15-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

  • 3 cups water

  • 1/2 cup cream

  • 3/4 cup pistachios, shelled and chopped

  • 1/2 cup pine nuts

  • 1/2 cup almonds

  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup coconut flakes, to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps to Make It

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.

  2. Unroll the puff pastry sheets and place them on greased baking sheets or ones lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes. You want the puff pastry to be golden and puffed. Remove from oven but do not turn the oven off.

  3. Break the puff pastry into small pieces (about 1 to 2 inches). Place the broken pieces into a large bowl along with the nuts and coconut flakes. Be sure that they are mixed well and evenly distributed. Place the nuts and pastry mixture into a greased 9 x 12-inch baking dish.

  4. In a saucepan, heat the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, and water on medium heat. Allow to cook for about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

  5. Pour the milk mixture over the puff pastry nut mixture. Pour the cream on top and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

  6. Serve warm or at room temperature.