قطر
Infused with rose and orange blossom water, this simple syrup is a welcome addition to many desserts.
This floral simple syrup called atter is required for many Middle Eastern desserts. It comes together in less than 15 minutes and lasts for months in your pantry. What makes this syrup different from regular simple syrups is the addition of fragrant rose water and orange blossom water.
This syrup is a necessary component of many Middle Eastern desserts, whether it is drizzled on top of the finished product or poured directly onto the dessert. For desserts like qatayef, the pastries are deep-fried and then dunked directly into a bowl of syrup. Other desserts like knafeh, are brought out of the oven and immediately drizzled with simple syrup and allowed to soak before cutting into it.
The ingredients
Sugar: Use granulated white sugar.
Lemon juice: You will need about 2 tablespoons of freshly-squeezed lemon juice.
Rose water: Rose water, called ma warrid in Arabic, is a clear liquid made by distilling rose petals. It is commonly used in Middle Eastern, Persian and Indian cuisine. It has a distinct and strong taste; therefore, a little goes a long way. It is absolutely delicious in many desserts when used in moderation (seriously, you only need 1 tablespoon for a batch of whatever you're making!).
Orange blossom water: Called ma zahr in Arabic, orange blossom water is made by distilling the blossoms of orange trees. It has a deliciously floral, citrusy flavour that is also used in Middle Eastern baking. Just like rose water, orange blossom water is deceptively strong, so use it moderation.
How to make simple syrup
Atter is ridiculously easy to make and keeps well in the pantry. I usually make a large batch of this and store it in jars to be brought out whenever I make Middle Eastern pastries.
Here are the steps:
- Place sugar and water in a saucepan. In this recipe, I used one cup of sugar and two cups of water.
- Bring to a boil, lower heat and allow to simmer for five minutes.
- Add lemon juice and simmer for two minutes.
- Turn off heat and add flavoured waters.
- Once the syrup has fully cooled, pour into jars and store in your pantry.
How much simple syrup does this recipe make?
This recipe makes 2 ¼ cups syrup. You’d think that 1 cup sugar plus 2 cups water would be 3 cups syrup, right? But the chemistry of dissolving sugar makes the final product equal ¾ the volume of the combined amount of sugar and water.
How to use atter
- Pour into cold drinks such as lemonade
- Soak into layers of your cake after baking to keep the layers moist
- Pour over pancakes and waffles
- Drizzle over a cup of freshly-chopped fruits
Desserts that use simple syrup/atter
If you'd like to try some Middle Eastern desserts that use simple syrup, check out the recipes below:
- Qatayef/Atayef - Stuffed Pancakes
- Warbat bil Ashta - Cream-Filled Pastries
- Halawet el Jibn - Sweet Cheese Dessert
- Baklawa bil Ashta - Cream Baklava
Common questions
You can certainly leave them out. While the floral water adds a layer of complexity to the syrup, it will still taste delicious without it.
Simple syrup is not sold in most grocery stores, but you may be able to find it in restaurant supply shops.
You certainly can! Experiment with brown sugar, demerara and others. Just keep in mind that different sugars will affect the taste of the simple syrup.
This syrup can be stored in the pantry for up to six months.
More supermarkets are stocking these fragrant waters in the baking aisle. If you can't find them, check your local Middle Eastern or Greek grocery store.
Simple Syrup - Atter
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup sugar
- Juice of ½ a lemon
- 1 teaspoon rose water
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil over high heat.
- Lower heat to medium and allow to simmer for about 8 minutes. The syrup will reduce slightly.
- Add lemon juice and simmer for two minutes.
- Turn off heat and add rose and orange blossom waters. Set aside to cool before pouring into a glass jar or bottle.
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