Baklava (بقلاوة)

Baklava is a sweet and rich dessert consisting of layers of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. This Middle Eastern delicacy is cherished for its flaky texture and rich taste. To prepare Baklava, phyllo sheets are layered with butter, nuts, and spices, then sliced into diamond shapes before baking. Once baked, the pastry is soaked with syrup for a sweet, sticky finish. Baklava is an enticing dessert suitable for special occasions or as a treat with tea or coffee.

Ingredients

• 1 lb phyllo dough, thawed
• 1 lb walnuts, finely chopped
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup syrup (1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup honey, 1 tsp lemon juice)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, combine the chopped walnuts with ground cinnamon.
3. Brush a 9×13 inch baking dish with melted butter to prevent sticking.
4. Layer 10 sheets of phyllo in the dish, brushing each sheet with melted butter to ensure crispiness.
5. Sprinkle a layer of the walnut mixture evenly over the buttered phyllo.
6. Continue layering phyllo and walnuts, brushing phyllo with butter until all are used, finishing with a phyllo layer.
7. Using a sharp knife, cut the layered pastry into diamond shapes to allow for even heat distribution.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crisp.
9. While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup by combining sugar, water, honey, and lemon juice in a saucepan and bringing to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
10. When the baklava is done, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the hot syrup evenly over the pastry, ensuring it is fully absorbed.
11. Allow the baklava to cool completely, letting it soak in the syrup for maximum flavor before serving.

Keywords: Phyllo, Sweet, Honey, Nuts, Middle Eastern

Spice Rack: Cinnamon

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