A Special Dessert from Central Asia - Baklava :)

Hi friends :)


Why I am starting this recipe is because I asked my friend What is that? I have not heard nor taste it after she gave it to me.Its so golden crust on the top soaked in  honey and sugar syrup.Its so tasty and an aromatic after eaten :) Wow I want to make it for sure and it took me for a while to get the perfect  baklava dessert. I baked it almost midnight :)Wah Wah Wah What an aromatic smell while baking Baklava at my home :) After waited for about 8 hours of soaking at overnight.On the next day,we ate it at morning .It was so yummyyyyyyy and gifted it to my friends and they said Awesome. :)Here goes the recipe as below :)
 A Baklava is a rich sweet pastry made up of multiple layers phyllo coated with chopped nuts of your choice and sweetened with honey and / or sugar syrup.
Phyllo sheets are  mostly available in an Indian or Pakistani based groceries or at super centers.Its very tough process to get super duper thin phyllo sheets when trying it at home. If you didn't get sheets then no problem you can try my recipe Apple Strudel basic dough to start the process.Once you get super thin dough then cut it carefully to get rectangle shape (12" *17 ") or varies for Rectangle pan or Square shaped for Square pans.


In my opinion if the phyllo sheets are not available in India then try for puff pastry sheets.I think it will give you better idea and can follow the recipe as follows.Try it at home.


Ingredients :

1.Filling: I had used nuts which are available at my home.You can add any nuts of your choice.

• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup sliced cashew nuts
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup chopped pistachios
• 3 Tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 Tsp ground cinnamon 
• 1/2 Tsp ground cloves

2.Syrup:

• 2 cups Water
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup honey.(If you don't like to add more.then can reduce 1/2 cup or as an optional )
• 2 Tablespoon Lemon juice.
• 1 stick cinnamon(optional) to enhance the flavour.

3. For the base and layers and on the top

• Phyllo Sheets atleast 28 sheets is that I used it.
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (melted)

 Method:

For Filling: 
Place all the ingredients into the bowl and mix well. keep aside.

For preparing the syrup:

• Place a deep thick bottomed sauce pan on the stove,combine water,sugar,honey,a stick of cinnamon and lemon juice
• Bring it to boil.
• Stirring constantly for about 20 minutes
• Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

Here are the step by step photos of my baklava baking :) 

For making the Baklava layers step by step wise:

• Butter the base of the rectangular or square baking pan
• On a dry work surface,place one sheet of phyllo and brush it with butter by using pastry brush.
• Place another sheet of phyllo on top and brush it with butter.Repeat  for 10 times
• Place the buttered phyllo sheets into the baking pan.
•  Spread 3 cups of mixed nut fillings evenly over the phyllo.
• Brush the butter on each and every of 7 phyllo sheets and place over the nut filling.
• Again spread over the remaining nut fillings evenly over the phyllo
• Butter and layer the remaining sheets atleast 10 to 12 of phyllo.
• Place it on the top
• Tuck overhanging edges under.
• Cut into desired diamonds or squares of your choice
• Brush the top with remaining butter.
• Bake in a preheated 350 F or 180 C  oven for about 40 minutes to 1 hour or until golden brown.
• Once its removed from the oven.
• Pour the cooled syrup evenly over the hot Baklava
• Let it soak for about 2 to 3 hours or overnight.
• Serve it immediately after being soaked.
• Yummy Baklava is served with a top of nuts or your choice.

Yummy Baklava :)

Enjoy Try it at home.Awaiting to hear your comments and your experience at home.

Happy Baking :)



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