Making Egyptian Qatayef in Morrisville, NC

'Twas the night of the Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship and Tar Heels across the world were biting their nails in nervous anticipation of the game. I met up with fellow Carolina alum, Omar AbdelBaky, on that balmy April evening. As our team prepared for sweet redemption against Gonzaga, we started talking about our favorite pocket foods to quell our nerves. Omar instantly brought up one of his favorite childhood treats, qatayef, a sweet dumpling that his mother, Kariman Allam, makes during the month of Ramadan. We called her on the spot and she happily agreed to teach me about qatayef and its importance to her family during Ramadan. 

After studying chemistry in Alexandria, Egypt, Kariman moved to the United States when she was 25. When she moved to Morrisville, NC she taught chemistry at Cary High School and served as the advisor of the Muslim Student Association. “I love chemistry,” she told me emphatically as she talked about her love for chemistry and cooking. “Everything is an interaction. It is amazing.” 

You can find the recipe here. Ramadan Mubarak!