Qottāb [Almond-filled Pastries]

Almond-filled Pastries from Yazd

Origin: Regional Specialty (Kavīr)

🍳 From the Test Kitchen > This recipe is a work in progress. While the foundation is solid, the exact ingredient ratios and timing haven't passed my final quality checks just yet. I’m sharing this early draft exclusively with subscribers so you can see what I'm working on. Feel free to experiment, adjust to your own taste, and add comments at the bottom of the recipe!

Qottāb is one of the most famous and beloved traditional pastries from Yazd, a city renowned across Iran for its master confectioners. These small, crescent-shaped treats feature a delicate, crisp shell that gives way to a dense, aromatic filling of finely ground walnuts or almonds sweetened with powdered sugar and heavily perfumed with cardamom. The pastries are deep-fried until golden and then, while still warm, thoroughly coated in powdered sugar to create a beautiful contrast between the crisp pastry, the fragrant nut center, and the soft, sweet exterior. A staple during the Nowrūz holiday, achieving the authentic flavor and texture of these delicate pastries is an undeniable success for the home baker.

Serves: Makes about 2 dozen pastries
Preparation time: 40 minutes (plus 1-2 hours resting time)
Cooking time: 30 minutes