Indulge in the delightful realm of Baklava, a luscious pastry brimming with rich history and captivating flavors. Originating from the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire, Baklava has embarked on a culinary journey across continents, enchanting palates worldwide. This article presents two irresistible Baklava recipes, each offering a unique twist on this classic dessert.
The first recipe, Honey Baklava, remains true to tradition, featuring layers of filo dough meticulously brushed with melted butter and filled with a mixture of chopped walnuts, cinnamon, and sugar. This heavenly creation is then baked to perfection and generously drenched in a sweet and aromatic honey syrup, resulting in a symphony of flavors that will leave you spellbound.
The second recipe, Chocolate Baklava, introduces a delightful fusion of East and West. Layers of crispy filo dough are filled with a luscious mixture of chopped walnuts, cocoa powder, and sugar, creating a tempting contrast between the bitterness of chocolate and the sweetness of the syrup. This innovative take on Baklava is sure to win over even the most discerning dessert connoisseur.
Whether you prefer the classic Honey Baklava or the tempting Chocolate Baklava, these recipes will guide you through the process of creating this delectable pastry in the comfort of your own home. Prepare to embark on a culinary adventure that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Istanbul, where the aroma of freshly baked Baklava fills the air, beckoning you to partake in this timeless treat.
EASY BAKLAVA
This is simple and easy. Serve it in cupcake papers. It freezes well, too.
Provided by ARVILLALAR
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 2h
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Toss together cinnamon and nuts. Unroll phyllo and cut whole stack in half to fit the dish. Cover phyllo with a damp cloth while assembling the baklava, to keep it from drying out.
- Place two sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the prepared dish. Brush generously with butter. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture on top. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with about 6 sheets of phyllo. Using a sharp knife, cut baklava (all the way through to the bottom of the dish) into four long rows, then (nine times) diagonally to make 36 diamond shapes.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and crisp, about 50 minutes.
- While baklava is baking, combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Stir in honey, vanilla and lemon or orange zest; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
- Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the syrup over it. Let cool completely before serving. Store uncovered.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 201.2 calories, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Cholesterol 13.6 mg, Fat 14.1 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Sodium 97.1 mg, Sugar 9.8 g
WALNUT-AND-HONEY BAKLAVA
The many buttered layers of phyllo dough, walnut filling, and sweet syrup make baklava the ultimate special-occasion dessert in Greece.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
Yield Makes one 12-inch baklava
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a food processor, pulse walnuts, cinnamon, and 1/2 cup sugar until finely ground.
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup water and remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar over medium-high; bring to a boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer; cook until slightly thickened and sugar is dissolved, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in honey. Let syrup cool completely.
- Brush a 12-by-2-inch round cake pan with butter. Trim each phyllo sheet into a 13-inch round (cover with plastic and a damp towel as you work). Carefully layer 7 phyllo sheets in pan, brushing butter between each layer. Sprinkle one-third of nut mixture over top. Repeat process twice more, brushing butter between each layer. Top with remaining 7 phyllo sheets, brushing butter between each layer.
- Generously brush top layer with butter. Using a sharp knife with a very thin blade (such as a boning knife), cut baklava into quarters, cutting through all phyllo layers. Halve each quarter to create 8 equal wedges. Working within one wedge at a time, make two straight cuts, 1 inch apart, parallel to one side of wedge. Make two more cuts, parallel to opposite side of same wedge, creating a diamond pattern. Repeat process in remaining 7 wedges.
- Bake until deep golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven; pour syrup over baklava. Let cool completely before serving.
CHEF JOHN'S BAKLAVA
I tend to enjoy a generous ratio between nuts and pastry, as that makes me feel a little bit better about the copious amounts of sugar in this, but above and beyond that, I think this approach produces the best texture. You can use as many layers of filo as you want, but be careful, since too many may not cook through, and the only way to mess this up is to undercook the dough. The top and bottom layers need to dry out, and thoroughly crisp up, otherwise, once the syrup gets ladled over, you'll have a soggy mess.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 2h25m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place walnuts, pistachios, and cinnamon in bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off until mixture is chopped but not too fine.
- Brush bottom of 9-inch round baking pan with melted butter. Place one round of phyllo dough in the pan; add a second round of dough. Drip about 1 tablespoon of melted butter over the top. Add 2 more sheets and drizzle with butter. Add 2 more sheets and drip with butter creating 6 layers for the bottom. (While you work keep the phyllo sheets covered with a damp, nearly dry, cotton towel to keep dough from drying out.)
- Sprinkle with 1/3 of the nut mixture. Top with a sheet of phyllo and drip with melted butter; repeat with 1 more sheet of filo. Add another 1/3 of the nut mixture.
- Place another sheet of phyllo on the nuts; drip with butter. Top with another sheet and drip with butter. Add the remaining nut mixture.
- Top with 2 sheets of phyllo; drip with butter. Add 2 more sheets; drip with butter. Top with the last 2 sheets and drizzle generously with the remaining butter. Cover pan with plastic and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Cut baklava into about 12 diamond-shaped pieces approximately the same size.
- Bake in preheated oven until browned and crisp, about an hour.
- Place sugar, honey, and cloves in a saucepan. Pour in water. Place pan over medium-high heat and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Whisk in vanilla and orange blossom water.
- After baklava has rested 5 minutes, ladle syrup over the top. Cool down to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 466.2 calories, Carbohydrate 47.4 g, Cholesterol 20.3 mg, Fat 29.8 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.2 g, Sodium 138.4 mg, Sugar 32.3 g
GREEK BAKLAVA
A Greek favorite that makes everyone think you are a master chef and is sooo easy to make!! I taught a Greek friend how to make apple pie and she taught me this fabulous recipe. The phyllo dough for this recipe is found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. Add a little lemon zest to the sugar sauce, if desired.
Provided by NEONWILLIE
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.
- Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 - 8 sheets deep.
- Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows the make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.
- Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 393.1 calories, Carbohydrate 37.5 g, Cholesterol 27.1 mg, Fat 25.9 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 6.1 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 196.4 mg, Sugar 19.9 g
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the taste of your baklava. Use fresh, unsalted butter, pure honey, and finely chopped nuts.
- Work quickly and efficiently: Baklava dough can be tricky to work with, so it's important to work quickly and efficiently. If the dough becomes too warm, it will become difficult to handle.
- Be patient: Baklava takes time to make, but it's worth the wait. Allow the baklava to cool completely before slicing and serving.
- Experiment with different flavors: Baklava is a versatile dessert that can be made with a variety of different nuts and flavors. Try experimenting with different combinations to find your favorite.
Conclusion:
Baklava is a delicious and elegant dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With a little patience and effort, you can make this classic dessert at home. These tips will help you make the perfect baklava every time.
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