Dujjonku (Dubai Chocolate Chewy Cookies)

The Dubai chewy cookie is such a lesson in contrasts — really dark, cocoa-ey, chewy exterior, crunchy, creamy, green pistachios centers. First you add some butter to the kadaif, and then bake it until brown and crispy. You make pistachio cream from scratch. It’s so nutty, so savory. The chewy marshmallow shell is quite easy to make. Be careful not to overcook the marshmallows to keep their stretchiness, their chewiness, their softness. Sift in some cocoa powder and milk powder. It’s a really fun process wrapping the kadaif balls feels like you’re making dumplings or bao.