Baklava
©Enzie Shahmiri Portraits and Fine Art
Baklava is a nutty, sweet pastry made with filo dough and syrup which has been a favorite in many countries that once were under Ottoman rule, such as Greece, Turkey, Arabia, etc.
I had my first taste of Baklava in Iran and love when it is made fresh.
Ingredients
3cups ground walnuts
1 1/4 cups icing sugar
1 TBSP ground cardamon
2/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
18 sheets of filo pastry (available in freezer section at supermarket)
For the Syrup
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups water
2TBSP rose water
Start by making the syrup:
1. Place the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a quick boil, then let it simmer for 10 min until liquid starts to become syrupy.
2. Add the rosewater, remove from stove and let cool.
For the Pastry:
1. Mix the nuts with icing sugar and cardamon.
2. Preheat oven to 325F
3. Brush a large rectangular baking tin with melted butter
4. Taking one filo sheet at a time, brush the sheets with melted butter
Note: Filo Dough dries really fast so place a damp towel over the dough that you are not currently using.
5. After you have 6 sheets in the bottom spread half of the nut mix evenly across
6. Take another 6 sheets (repeat step4)
7. Add the remaining nuts and cover with another 6 buttered sheets
8. Using a sharp knife cut diagonals into the dough and create diamond shapes.
9. Brush remaining butter over the dough.
10. Bake for 20 min at 325F
11. Increase heat to 400F and bake for another 15 min or until top is golden brown.
12. Remove from oven and pour syrup over the the pastry.
Enjoy!
©Enzie Shahmiri Portraits and Fine Art
Do you have a special Baklava recipe? I love to hear about it.
