Om Ali (Egyptian Bread and Milk Pudding)

Om Ali is Egypt’s answer to bread pudding, layers of flaky pastry baked in sweetened milk with nuts and raisins until golden on top. It’s a beloved dessert for gatherings and Ramadan iftar tables.

Ingredients

• 6 sheets phyllo dough or 1 sheet puff pastry, baked and broken into pieces
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup mixed nuts (pistachios, almonds, walnuts), chopped
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom

Instructions

1. Bake the pastry
   Bake the phyllo or puff pastry at 375°F until golden and crisp, about 10-12 minutes, then break into rough pieces.
2. Warm the milk
   In a saucepan, heat the milk, cream, and sugar together until the sugar dissolves and the milk is hot but not boiling. Stir in the vanilla and cardamom.
3. Layer the dish
   Scatter the baked pastry pieces in a greased baking dish, then sprinkle over most of the nuts and raisins, saving some for the top.
4. Pour and soak
   Pour the warm milk mixture evenly over the pastry, pressing gently so it soaks in. Top with the remaining nuts and raisins.
5. Bake until golden
   Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, until the top is golden and the milk is mostly absorbed.
6. Rest and serve
   Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving warm.

For extra richness, run the dish under the broiler for the last minute to deepen the color on top.