Om Ali – Hearty Egyptian Bread Pudding Recipe

Om Ali or Umm Ali is a traditional hearty Egyptian bread pudding that is delicious- crispy yet creamy, sweet, and comforting for everyone! It’s fit for every season! made with bread or pastry soaked in sweetened milk and mixed with pistachio, raisins, and shredded coconut for the ultimate comfort dessert!

Bitter Sweet History behind Om Ali

Om Ali, sometimes also spelled Umm Ali, Um Ali, Oumm Ali, and Omali is essentially Egyptian bread pudding. When translated the name means Ali’s mother, really (and you will know why)! The dessert is a sort of bread pudding. It can be made using phyllo dough, puff pastry, or croissants.

The legend of Om Ali is steeped in intrigue and drama, featuring a mix of historical and mythical accounts. Speaking of the devil, well historically speaking Om Ali was actually the first wife of Sultan Ezz El Din Aybek. The story goes that there was some serious beef between her and the sultan’s second wife, Shajar Al-Durr—who, by the way, had her own moment as a ruler of Egypt. Legend has it, after a bunch of twists and turns in their soap-opera-worthy lives, Shajar Al-Durr ended up orchestrating the sultan’s murder and then died under some pretty sketchy circumstances herself.

In a mix of celebration and maybe a touch of revenge, Om Ali decided to whip up a new dessert to serve up some sweet justice. which they handed out to everyone, making it an instant hit across Egypt.

Now, flip the script to another version where Om Ali is the second wife and the plot thickens. She’s rumored to have been plotting hard to get rid of the first wife so her son, Ali, could snag the throne. After securing her win, she celebrated by creating this fabulous dessert, and everyone was so here for it, that they started chanting “Om Ali, Om Ali” as gratitude.

Fast forward to today, and Om Ali isn’t just about past palace drama; it’s a major hit at celebrations. Whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, or during Ramadan, this dessert is a go-to for a sweet, festive treat.

So, why do you need to make this traditional dessert?

Well, personally for me, besides I think this is an interesting background story. this recipe is so easy to prepare and so quick to bake! It’s one of the easiest desserts on the blog, and I love it a lot for its flavor and texture. Their firm, crunchy texture, prevents them from soaking up too much milk like the traditional “breads.”  So while the bottom layer will soften, it won’t disintegrate and turn into mush like the others.  It will still have some bite into it.  The top layer, on the other hand, will turn into this heavenly, caramelized, crunchy topping that beautifully contrasts the creamy bottom. Heavenly delish!

So, here we go!

Ingredients of Om Ali

• Puff Pastry; Traditionally Om Ali is made with an Egyptian flatbread called roaa, phyllo puff pastry sheets, and sometimes even lunettes. But I decided to go with puff pastry because it’s easier to find and it’s so delicious too! The more stale your bread the better because it will absorb more liquid!
• Milk; These are combined to create a rich, creamy liquid used to coat the croissants.  use whole milk or full cream for the creamiest results.
• Heavy Cream; Used twice in the recipe, once for milk the mixture and second for the topping of the bread pudding
• Sugar; helps sweeten the milk mixture. 
• Cardamom Powder; Used to enhance the warmth of the dish. you can change to cinnamon powder.
• Topping; Technically optional but highly recommended, we love to sprinkle shredded coconut, toasted hazelnuts, raisins, and almonds on top for extra texture and flavor. 
• Sliced Roasted Almond, Roasted Pistachio coarsely chopped and Yellow Raisins and Desiccated Coconut All of these will be layered in the pudding and added on top when serving! Om Ali’s recipe is traditionally layered with mixed nuts. Use whatever you like! You can use walnuts, slithered almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. For a nut-free version, use pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and/or pine nuts.

How to Make Om Ali

First, preheat your oven to 356℉ (180℃).

Then, thaw the puff pastry sheet. Once it’s malleable, cut it into squares and place them on a baking sheet. Slide the sheet into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the pastry turns nice and golden.

Next, remove the pastry from the oven and allow it to cool down completely. This will make it easier to handle in the subsequent steps.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine milk and sugar. Place it over medium heat and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. Add a sprinkle of cardamom powder and mix well to infuse the flavor throughout the milk.

After that, crush half of the cooled pastry into smaller pieces and spread them evenly at the bottom of a casserole dish. Sprinkle half of the roasted almonds, pistachios, raisins, and desiccated coconut over the crushed pastry. Carefully pour half of the sweetened milk mixture over this layer.

Repeat the layering process one more time with the remaining pastry, nuts, raisins, coconut, and milk mixture.

Finally, pour the heavy cream over the top layer, ensuring it covers everything evenly. Place the casserole back into the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the top of the pudding is bubbling and has turned a lovely golden color.

Remove the Om Ali from the oven and serve while it is still warm. Enjoy the delightful layers of sweetness and texture!

It would help if you tried other whole cake recipes:

Try this recipe! 

I’m delighted to find an easy and delectable menu like this! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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