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Intense & Bitter

Dark Chocolate Dubai Bar

For those who prefer bittersweet over sweet. A 70% dark chocolate shell cradles the same iconic pistachio-kataifi filling for a more sophisticated, adult version of the Dubai bar.

⏱ Prep: 20 min 🔥 Cook: 10 min 👤 Servings: 4 bars ⭐ Difficulty: Easy

Step-by-step instructions

1

Temper the dark chocolate

Melt 300 g of dark chocolate over a bain-marie to 50°C. Remove from heat, add remaining 100 g and stir until the temperature drops to 31–32°C. This tempering ensures a glossy, snappy shell.

2

Toast the kataifi

Melt butter in a pan, add kataifi strands and toast over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until golden. Add vanilla extract and stir. Cool completely.

3

Make the filling

Mix toasted kataifi into the pistachio cream until well combined. Taste and adjust — the filling should be sweet, nutty and crunchy.

4

Shell the molds

Coat the inside of silicone bar molds with a thin layer of tempered dark chocolate. Chill 5 minutes.

5

Fill and close

Add the pistachio-kataifi filling. Seal with remaining dark chocolate and smooth flat. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt immediately.

6

Chill and serve

Refrigerate 1 hour. Unmold and serve at room temperature for the best snap and flavour release.

💡 Dubai Bar tip: Use a 70–72% dark chocolate — anything above 80% can become too bitter against the sweet pistachio cream. Balance is everything.