Om Ali

Om Ali is an Egyptian baked bread pudding made from pastry or flatbread soaked in sweetened milk and baked with nuts and raisins. It is traditionally served as a dessert during Ramadan and on festive occasions.

What it really is

Om Ali is built on puff pastry or thin flatbread torn into pieces and layered in a dish with raisins, coconut, and chopped nuts such as pistachios, almonds, or walnuts. The dish is covered with a mixture of hot milk, cream, and sugar, sometimes with vanilla, and then baked in the oven until the top is golden and the milk has set into a custard-like layer.

The name means "mother of Ali" and the origin of the dish is traditionally linked to a legend about Shajar al-Durr, though this story is not firmly documented. Om Ali is often confused with bread pudding in the Western sense, but it is wetter and lighter in texture, and it is usually served hot straight from the oven rather than cold.

How it's served

• Served hot, straight from the oven, in the baking dish or in individual bowls.
• Often dusted with extra nuts and sometimes a sprinkle of cinnamon or coconut on top.
• Eaten with a spoon as a dessert, typically after a main meal.
• Commonly prepared during Ramadan and at celebrations.

How to write it on the menu

• Name the main components on the menu: puff pastry or flatbread, milk and cream, nuts and raisins, served hot.
• Flag allergens clearly: contains wheat, milk, eggs and tree nuts, and may contain other nuts depending on the recipe.
• State whether it is made with puff pastry or flatbread, and which nuts are used (pistachio, almond, walnut).
• Indicate that it is served hot; say if coconut or cinnamon is included.