So, what's the deal with this “Dubai Chocolate”?

The crunchy, delicate treat, originating from Dubai, is a favorite among gourmet chocolate lovers and has garnered excessive attention on numerous social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, X, etc.

The treat became notable due to its green pastry in the center of the chocolate bar, followed by a green swirl and golden flakes on top of the bar. The green pastry is pistachio cream mixed with kataifi, a Middle Eastern phyllo dough with a sweet cheese filling.

Although this chocolate bar is tasty to eat, the nutrition facts vary. However, it should be looked upon by those who are health-focused as 40 grams of the bar could contain 140 calories, 5 grams of sugar, and 10 grams of carbohydrates. It is safe to consume this as a once-a-week and holiday dessert, not an everyday treat.

This treat can be very expensive to buy; that's why the most convenient way is to make it at home. In fact, it requires very few ingredients and equipment to make so you can save money, time in the line, and sanity trying to go everywhere to find it.

Active Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk or dark chocolate chips
• ½ cup pistachio cream
• 1 tbsp of tahini
• 200g kataifi
• ⅔ tsp virgin coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 tbsp butter

Materials

• Saucepan
• Frying pan
• Whisk or spoon
• Knife
• Medium to large bowls
• Spatula
• Chocolate bar mold

Tips

• Dark chocolate gives off a nice appearance, but milk chocolate is highly recommended for a better, sweeter taste.
• Keep a thermometer handy for proper temperature monitoring and control when melting the chocolate. For instance, make sure the temperature is set at 90.5°F or 32.5°C to protect the chocolate from overheating and for a more pleasing appearance and taste.
• Silicone and twenty-eight-squared molds are the best way to create a smooth texture and give a clean look to the chocolate bar.
• When cutting the kataifi, make sure you position the dough in a horizontal position, keep your knife at a steady angle of 20°, use a firm grip on the handle, and press on the kataifi dough for better cutting.
• I recommend not to use sugar, sweeteners, or any other kind of sweeteners for the chocolate for nutrition purposes, as that could tarnish the chocolate’s natural sweetness.

Nutrition Notices

• Kataifi is a home source of Selenium and Magnesium. Selenium protects cells and allows Vitamin E to fight off radicals that contribute to numerous diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease, etc. Magnesium enhances muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure and fighting against the incidence of arrhythmia, an irregular rhythm in your heartbeat.
• Pistachios are the golden prize for eye health, as they contain antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, that protect against UV radiation exposure. The food is also rich in Vitamin B6, which aids brain development and increases energy levels, and protein, which engages in muscle growth, metabolism, and hormone regulation.
• Dark chocolate is a healthy way for chocolate lovers, as it’s composed of Theobromine and Prebiotics. Theobromine boosts brain activity and improves cardiovascular performance by adding oxygen to the blood flow. Prebiotics remove pathogens in the digestive system and replace those pathogens with healthy bacteria.
• Tahini, which is made out of sesame seeds, is heavily supplied with antioxidants such as sesamin, which protects the liver and brain from damage, and sesamol, which protects the body from inflammation in the stomach and supports bone growth due to the levels of calcium present.

Nutrition Facts Per 40g:

• Calories: 140
• Fat: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 10g
• Total Sugar: 5g
• Added Sugars: 4.5g

Directions

Step 1: Get all ingredients and materials set up. Make sure you wash your hands for 20 seconds before starting.

Step 2: Start by melting your butter. Use your microwave or a skillet.

• For skillet, set stove to low to medium. Use one tablespoon of cold butter and place it on the skillet. Stir the butter for 20-30 seconds until there is no butter residue left. LEAVE THE MELTED BUTTER IN THE SKILLET. Place a skillet cover over to prevent browning.
• For the microwave, use one tablespoon of butter. Place the butter into a medium-sized and microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and set it on low power for 20-25 seconds or until there’s no more butter residue left. I recommend using a microwave cover to prevent any excess butter from sticking all over the microwave and stirring the butter in intervals to prevent any overheating. When the butter is melted, place the butter on a skillet and place a skillet cover to preserve the butter.

Image Credit: Dan Dennis from Unsplash

Step 3: Prepare the kataifi. You may use a knife and chopping board or a shredder.

• For chopping, place 200 grams of kataifi batch in a horizontal position and hold your knife at a 20° angle with a firm grip on the handle. Press on the batch for comfortable cutting. Cut the kataifi into vertical sections. If the dough doesn’t become separated, use your hands to separate the dough.
• For shredding, unwrap and take out 200 grams of kataifi. Place a chopping board or large bowl below the shredder to prevent the dough from falling onto the table. Place the kataifi and shredder in a vertical position and shred it for one minute until all of the dough is shredded.

(Note: If you don’t want to do this, buy pre-chopped kataifi)

Step 4: When you’re finished chopping the kataifi, mix the dough with the leftover melted butter in the skillet using a spatula. Be sure to set the stove low to medium to avoid burning. Stir the mixture until the dough reaches golden brown.

Image Credit: Rachel Claire from Pexels

Step 5: When you’re finished mixing the kataifi, place it in a medium or large bowl. Add 1/2 cup of pistachio cream, 1 tbsp of tahini, and 2/3 tsp virgin coconut oil (optional). Mix the ingredients until it reaches a thick green paste with no lumps visible. Preserve the paste and place a bowl cover to prevent any excess moisture.

Image Credit: Paul Wence from Pexels

Step 6: When the green pastry is ready, place it on standby and get ready to melt the chocolate, as that is the main ingredient for this treat. Grab a 1.5-2 qt saucepan and place it on the stovetop.

With the saucepan stationed, grab about 1 cup of chocolate chips and pour it into the saucepan. Stir the chocolate in the saucepan for about one minute or until it fully melts.

Step 7: When the chocolate is melted, turn off the stove, but don’t remove the chocolate yet. Using a thermometer, execute a ten-second temperature check on the chocolate to ensure it is at the right temperature to avoid overheating. The right temperature should be set at 32.5°C or 90.5°F. When the thermometer reaches 32.5°C or 90.5°F, then it has reached the perfect temperature.

Image Credit: Monstera Production From Pexels

Step 8: When you finished checking the temperature, pour the melted chocolate mixture into a medium cup or bowl. Grab the chocolate mold. Clean the mold using water and soap for about 25 seconds.

Pour half the melted chocolate into the mold (Do not pour all of it). Use a spoon or spatula to make sure the chocolate spreads around all squares and all sides of the mold. Or, pat the mold to spread the chocolate all around the mold. Pour out any excess chocolate into the cup with the remaining chocolate. Freeze the mold for 5-6 minutes at 0°F or -18°C.

Step 9: When the first layer of the chocolate is fully frozen, add the green pistachio-kataifi pastry to the mold to make a second layer. Use a spoon to make sure it is spread around evenly on the mold.

Step 10: To make the third and final layer, pour the remaining chocolate onto the second layer until there is no remaining chocolate in the cup. Spread the chocolate around the mold until there is no remaining space left.

Step 11: Freeze the mold for an estimated 10-25 minutes.

Step 12: After 10-25 minutes, take the solid mold out of the freezer. Remove the frozen chocolate bar from the mold and enjoy!

Optional Step: To add on to the flavor, drizzle 2 tablespoons liquid pistachio cream on top of the bar.

I hope you enjoy this Dubai chocolate recipe and the treat. Having a second hand for this recipe is perfectly acceptable and is recommended for those who are new to cooking recipes. Although this recipe is fun to make, always remember to stay focused on your health to protect your growth.

If there are any questions you have or other recipe ideas to share, let me know. Enjoy!