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Discover the charm of our Easy Ashta Recipe, a wonderful blend of velvety cream that effortlessly elevates the charm of your Ramadan desserts. This versatile creation seamlessly complements a myriad of traditional sweet delights.
Crafted for both elegance and ease, this Middle Eastern delight is versatile, enhancing your desserts with its velvety texture and irresistible taste. Whether adorning pastries, topping puddings, or enriching your favorite treats, our Ashta recipe promises to make this Ramadan truly special!
A Visual Feast of Ashta Elegance
The Easy Ashta sweet cream recipe I shared with you today is very popular on my Instagram page, and I assure you that you will love it! This recipe holds a special place in my heart, as it was passed down to me by my mom. Interestingly, she also shared it with my cousin, who owns a restaurant in Texas, where it’s incorporated into various desserts with great success.
Not only that, but it is one of the easiest ashta recipes you will ever make. Don’t forget that I have a low-sugar option for you in case you are diabetic or follow a low-carb dieter.
Making Middle Eastern Ashta is like taking a delicious journey into my roots and traditions. The whole process is a cozy experience—carefully blending simple ingredients to create a velvety masterpiece.
Sharing Ashta during Ramadan is like sharing a sweet hug with loved ones. It’s not just about the food; it’s a way to connect and enjoy special moments together. Ashta brings joy to the shared times of Ramadan, making them even more special.
Table of Contents
- What Is Ashta Made Of?
- Pro Tip
- How Can You Enjoy the Sweet Taste of Ashta?
- Ashta’s Heartwarming Presence in Ramadan
- Are You on a Low Carb or Keto Diet?
- Here Are Some Ways to Thicken Ashta!
- Do Not Have Ricotta Cheese? I’ve Got You Covered!
- Are You Frustrated with Your Sticky Pan? Try My Special Pan!
- Tips for the Best Clotted Cream Ashta
- Pro Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Clotted Cream or Ashta
- Add Creamy Ashta to these Recipes!
- Easy 5-Ingredient Ashta Recipe Recipe
Creamy Ashta Delights: Picture Perfect Pleasure!
What Is Ashta Made Of?
Ashta, also known as Kashta or Qishta, is a luscious clotted cream cherished for its creamy texture and versatility in various Middle Eastern desserts. It holds a special place in festive gatherings, symbolizing joy and togetherness. It gets its unique aromatic flavors from rose water and orange blossom water.
Ashta is known for its velvety texture and rich taste, making it a versatile ingredient in the culinary traditions of the Middle East. It is commonly used to fill pastries, top desserts, and add a creamy richness to various sweet dishes.
Originally, Qishta was prepared by boiling fresh milk and meticulously skimming the thin layers that formed on the surface through multiple repetitions. However, the modern approach often involves a more convenient shortcut, as the traditional method is time-consuming.
Some desserts that have ashta as a main ingredient are Warbat Bil Ashta (Shaabiyat), Middle-Eastern Pancakes (Atayif), Osmaliyi Dessert With Ashta, Aish El Saraya- Rose Water Bread Pudding, and Halawat el Jibn (Sweet Cheese Rolls).
Perfect Ashta for Your Atayef!
Pro Tip
Make sure you whisk the ashta continuously. If you do not, Kashta will thicken unevenly. You will have lumps and chunks in your ashta.
How Can You Enjoy the Sweet Taste of Ashta?
You can say this is the Arabic Cream Cheese. It is sweet, creamy and so delicious on its own. But it is also versatile. It can be used in a wide array of Middle Eastern desserts. It perfectly pairs with fruits!
Here are some ways to enjoy ashta.
Now it is my favorite! I just love to sit on my porch with a bowl of delightful ashta. I top it with fruits, some crushed pistachios, and a drizzle of honey. What a perfection!
Interestingly, in the Middle East, it’s a popular choice to serve it with acocktail, and it’s a real crowd-pleaser!
To wow your guests, make some of this delicious sweet ashta. Then, bake in between a special semolina dough to make what is called Maamoul Mad Bi Ashta, a tasty, delectable Middle Eastern sweet.
For a kid-friendly version of ashta, try it in panna cotta form, or what I call Ashtello. Add your kid’s favorite fruit on top. He will ask for more and more!
Try this delectable ashta with filo/phyllo dough-based dessert. For example, Osmaliyi Dessert With Ashta calls for this special ashta and Kataifi fillo dough.
Why not pipe some rich and creamy ashta onto a pie crust? The combination is irresistible!
Let me suggest another delicious way to enjoy this rich and decadent Kashta. It is great to spread it over toast or pancake-type dough like the yummy Middle-Eastern Pancakes (Atayif).
Ashta Moments: Sweetness Captured!
Ashta’s Heartwarming Presence in Ramadan
During Ramadan, Ashta holds a special significance as it becomes a sweet companion to the cherished moments of iftar and suhoor.
This velvety clotted cream, with its rich and comforting taste, adds a touch of indulgence to traditional Middle Eastern desserts. As families gather to break their fast, Ashta becomes a symbol of togetherness and celebration, enhancing the sweetness of the month.
Its versatility allows it to complement various treats, making it a staple ingredient that adds warmth and flavor to the communal spirit of Ramadan nights. Whether enjoyed in pastries, puddings, or as a topping, Ashta becomes an essential part of creating memorable and joyous culinary experiences during this sacred month.
Sweet and Simple: Ashta in Focus
Are You on a Low Carb or Keto Diet?
If you choose to have a specific diet, you can still enjoy delicious sweet dishes. So, adjust this luscious ashta to fit your preference.
For a low-carb and keto-friendly ashta recipe, you can use heavy cream and sugar-free sugar like xylitol. Click here to purchase xylitol.
Attention! Be sure to also replace corn starch with arrowroot powder.
Cream Dreams
Here Are Some Ways to Thicken Ashta!
Some may thicken the ashta using bread. Many others use corn starch to thicken Ashta as I did here in this recipe.
If you prefer it to be even thicker, just use less milk. So, instead of adding 2 cups of milk, you can use 1 cup of milk.
Another option for thicker ashta is to add less milk or heavy cream in the first step of the process. You can also whisk on low heat for a little longer.
A Photo Journey of Sweet Moments
Do Not Have Ricotta Cheese? I’ve Got You Covered!
This recipe calls for ricotta cheese. If you do not have it, you can add some vinegar to hot milk and leave it for a while.
The milk will curdle, so you separate the curds or lumps from the whey. Drain them before using them in ashta.
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Tips for the Best Clotted Cream Ashta
If you choose to store this luscious Ashta, press a plastic wrap over the surface of the clotted cream. This way, you will not end up with a cream skin formation while Ashta chills. Upon serving stored Kashta, do not forget to mix it.
All ricotta is not the same. For rich ashta, make sure to use a high-quality brand.
Pro Tips
You can make this rich ashta unsweetened if you will use it with desserts that are served with simple syrup or ater.
For a special chocolate tweak, add some cocoa powder to your ashta. You add it with the corn starch. What a gorgeous variation!
Soft and Creamy! Don’t You Want to taste it?
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not recommended to freeze clotted cream or ashta. Once it defrosts, it will lose its creamy texture. It may become dry and crumbly. So, it is better to store it in a container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Whipping cream is much fattier than whole milk. But, they work the same way in most recipes just like Ashta recipe. If you use whole milk, you can some butter to add the fats.
A good idea is to get a hand blender. Whisk it few times. It will get back to its smooth creamy texture.
It is a great way to try other versions of ashta tastes. Of course, you can fry them after forming them into Middle-Eastern Pancakes (Atayif). You can also set them in the oven like Osmaliyi Dessert With Ashta.
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Clotted Cream or Ashta
The sweet creamy Ashta is perfect on top of Strawberry Mango Banana Smoothie. It also adds a lot to the Satisfying Fruit Salad. Made with 5 ingredients only, let’s prepare it together!
Ingredients
- Ricotta cheese
- Whole milk or heavy cream
- Sugar
- Corn starch
- Rosewater
How To Prep
First, in a medium pot (while the stove is OFF), add cold whipping cream, sugar, rose water, and cornstarch. Whisk until corn starch has fully dissolved.
Then, turn the heat on to high while whisking continuously.
Once the milk comes to a boil as you are whisking, you will notice it getting thicker. Once it has thickened, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the hot stove.
Finally, add in the full container of ricotta cheese, then whisk until whipped and fluffy.
Enjoy right away or allow to cool for 20 minutes. Then, refrigerate for 3–4 hours before using with recipes that call for ashta.
My Favorite Bowl for a Sweet Dessert!
Try these Recipes with Sweet Creamy Ashta!
- Aish el Saraya- Rose Water Bread Pudding
- Avocado Smoothie With Whipped Ricotta Cheese
- Halawit Elriz-Rice and Cheese Cream
- Osmaliyi Dessert With Ashta
- Ashtello (Panna Cotta)
- Middle-Eastern Pancakes (Atayif)
Add Creamy Ashta to these Recipes!
- Strawberry Mango Banana Smoothie
- Cantaloupe Mora Smoothie
- Homemade Delicious Creamy Yogurt Kefir
- Blender Mango Soft Serve |Ice Cream in 5 Minutes
- Satisfying Fruit Salad
A Picture You Can Smell!
Easy 5-Ingredient Ashta Recipe
Ingredients
- 30 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 Cups whole milk or heavy cream
- 5 Tablespoons corn starch
- ¼ Cup rose water
- ¾ Cup sugar
Instructions
- In a medium pot while the stove is OFF, add in the milk, sugar, rose water, and starch.
- Whisk until corn starch has fully dissolved, about 5 minutes.
- Turn the heat on high and continue whisking until it comes to a boil. You should see the milk thicken into a white pudding (see video below). Once it has thickened, remove pan off of the heat.
- Add in the ricotta cheese then whisk well incorporated, fluffy and whipped! You can enjoy it right away or use it with many different middle eastern desserts (see the recommended desserts linked above this recipe card).
- Allow the ashta to cool for 20 minutes them refrigerate for 2-4 hours or over night until firm.
Incredible! This is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. It was the first time I try to make clotted cream and it was a success. Thank you
Thank you for sharing this ashta recipe. I love Arabic desserts and this ashta can be used in many of them.
Best ashta recipe I have tried making. It works literally with any dessert that calls for recipe. I can make this in 5 minutes and it is ready to use. So satisfying.
Happy to hear that! This ashta recipe is loved by my instagram followers!! 🙂 Enjoy!
This is my new go to ashta recipe. I whip it up in five minutes. So easy and so versatile.
It is the best! I love to hear you like it!
The easiest and best ever ashta recipe. Works well with most desserts. Thanks a lot
My go to ashta with all Arabic desserts. It’s flawless! Thanks you ❤️
The most accurate ashta recipe I’ve tried so far. Thank you
Glad you tried it and loved it! One of my most popular ashta sweet cream recipes !
This is my go to ashta recipe! Thank you!
Amazing!!