I Made The Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar (from scratch!)
I Made The Viral Dubai Chocolate Bar (from scratch!) is a medium Middle Eastern recipe that serves 4. 250 calories per serving. Recipe by Inga Lam on YouTube.
Prep: 22 min | Cook: 25 min | Total: 62 min
Cost: $48.65 total, $12.16 per serving
Ingredients
- 1 lb Pistachios (shelled, roasted, then processed into butter)
- 2 tbsp Neutral Oil (helps pistachio butter become pliable)
- 2 tbsp Granulated Sugar (adds sweetness to pistachio butter)
- 0.25 tsp Salt (pinch, enhances flavor)
- 2 tbsp Tahini (adds nutty depth to the filling)
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted, used to toast katayifi)
- 5 oz Katayifi (shredded phyllo dough) (toasted for crunchy layers)
- 100 g White Chocolate (for decorative drizzle)
- 200 g Bittersweet Chocolate (main coating, 70% cacao)
Instructions
Roast Pistachios
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Spread the shelled pistachios on a baking tray and roast for 5 minutes, stirring once, until fragrant.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 350°F
Chop Katayifi
While the pistachios roast, roughly chop the katayifi into bite‑size pieces (about 1‑inch lengths).
Time: PT5M
Toast Katayifi in Butter
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the chopped katayifi and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until golden and crisp.
Time: PT5M
Set Aside Toasted Katayifi
Transfer the toasted katayifi to a small bowl and let cool.
Time: PT2M
Make Pistachio Butter
Place the roasted pistachios in the food processor. Pulse until a fine powder forms, then continue processing while slowly drizzling in neutral oil until the mixture becomes a smooth, spreadable butter (about 10‑15 minutes).
Time: PT15M
Flavor the Butter
Add the granulated sugar, pinch of salt, and tahini to the pistachio butter. Blend for 2 minutes until fully incorporated and glossy.
Time: PT2M
Melt White Chocolate
Finely chop the white chocolate and melt it in a double‑boiler or in short bursts in the microwave, stirring until smooth.
Time: PT5M
Melt Bittersweet Chocolate
Repeat the melting process with the bittersweet chocolate, keeping the temperature around 115°F (45°C) for proper tempering.
Time: PT5M
Fill the Mold with Dark Chocolate
Pour the melted bittersweet chocolate into the Dubai chocolate bar mold, filling the sides and leaving a shallow well in the center for the pistachio filling.
Time: PT5M
Add White Chocolate Drizzle
Using a spoon or a small piping bag, drizzle the melted white chocolate over the top of the dark chocolate layer for decorative contrast.
Time: PT2M
Add Pistachio Filling and Crunch
Spoon generous dollops of the pistachio butter into the center of each bar, then sprinkle the toasted katayifi pieces over the top. Lightly press to embed.
Time: PT5M
Set the Bars
Place the filled mold in the freezer for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate is firm to the touch.
Time: PT10M
Unmold and Store
Remove the solidified bars from the mold. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 2 months.
Time: PT0M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 250
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbohydrates
- 12 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
Dietary info: Vegetarian, Contains gluten (katayifi is wheat based)
Allergens: Tree nuts (pistachios), Dairy (butter, chocolate), Sesame (tahini)
Last updated: April 21, 2026






