Best 4 Classic Greek Baklava Recipes
Indulge in the delectable flavors of classic Greek baklava, a multi-layered pastry that has captivated taste buds for centuries. Originating from ancient Greece, this iconic dessert showcases layers of crispy filo dough, each meticulously brushed with melted butter and filled with a mixture of chopped nuts, cinnamon, and a touch of cloves. The result is a golden-brown pastry that exudes a delightful aroma and a symphony of textures. Whether you prefer the traditional honey syrup or a refreshing lemon syrup, every bite of this classic Greek baklava promises an unforgettable culinary experience. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through two variations of this beloved dessert, providing step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure your baklava turns out perfectly every time. From the traditional honey-drizzled version to the tangy lemon-infused delight, these recipes will take you on a journey to the heart of Greek pastry-making. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and prepare to create a masterpiece that will impress your family and friends.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
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
BAKLAVA
Many ethnic festivals are held in my city throughout the year. One in May is the Greek Hellenic Festival. My family enjoys baklava-a traditional walnut strudel. The recipe uses phyllo dough, which is not difficult to work with. Just have your ingredients ready to go and follow the directions on the package. The results are scrumptious and well worth the effort. -Judy Losecco, Buffalo, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and cloves; set aside. Brush a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with some of the butter. Unroll 1 package phyllo dough; cut stack into a 10-1/2x9-in. rectangle. Repeat with remaining phyllo. Discard scraps., Line bottom of prepared pan with 2 sheets of phyllo dough (sheets will overlap slightly). Brush with butter. Repeat layers 14 times. (Keep dough covered with a damp towel until ready to use to prevent it from drying out.) , Spread with 2 cups walnut mixture. Top with 5 layers of phyllo dough, brushing with butter between each sheet. Spread with remaining walnut mixture. Top with 1 layer of phyllo dough; brush with butter. Repeat 14 times. Cut into 2-1/2-in. squares; cut each square in half diagonally. Brush remaining butter over top. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown., In a large saucepan, bring syrup ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and discard zest; cool to lukewarm. Pour syrup over warm baklava.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 271 calories, Fat 16g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 21mg cholesterol, Sodium 162mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
TRADITIONAL GREEK BAKLAVA
This is as Greek as it gets... Baklava... or, if you would like to pronounce it the Greek way: Baklavás - with the emphasis on the last 'a'. This recipe is the real thing and just the way I make it at home here in Greece and has nothing in common with the mass produced variety (regardless of how good they may be). I know it will blow you away, so to speak, and you will be able to fully understand why this particular dessert has withstood the test of time so well. It's an age old, traditional sweet with its roots lost in time where Greece met the Middle East centuries ago. Any questions? Feel free to contact me. Kalí órexi - bon appetit, Maria www.authentic-greek-recipes.com
Provided by Chef Maria
Categories Dessert
Time 1h45m
Yield 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix the walnuts, breadcrumbs and cinnamon. Butter your baking pan (large enough to lay out the pastry while lining the sides of the pan as well) and place 5 sheets of the pastry on the bottom, 1 by 1, buttering each individually as you place it on the bottom. Cover the remaining phyllo sheets with a slightly damp kitchen towel for the time being so they do not dry out.
- With a large spoon evenly spread 1/2 the nut filling over all the pastry. Cover the filling with another 3 sheets of phyllo pastry, again individually buttering each as you place it. Evenly spoon on the remaining 1/2 of the nut mixture and place another 5 sheets of phyllo pastry on top, again buttering each individually as you place it. Pat the top pastry sheets down very gently and cut away any excess round the edges with a very sharp knife.
- Cut the Baklava into triangle servings. Place a clove on every 3rd or so piece, puncturing the pastry with the stem of the clove. Bake the Baklava in a well preheated oven at 180ºC - 350ºF for 1 hour approximately or until the pastry is golden. Remove the Baklava from the oven.
- Prepare the syrup by boiling the water, sugar and juice of your preference in a saucepan over a gentle flame, stirring with a whisk, for about 10 minutes and then allow the syrup to cool. Pour the syrup onto the Baklava (cold syrup - hot Baklava). When the Baklava absorbs the syrup it is normal for the top layer of pastry to remain crispy. Allow the Baklava to cool and then knock yourself out -- the edges are extra delicious --
- *** Under no circumstances should an oven fan be used while baking the Baklava. It will burn the top pastry layers and edges within minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1191.2, Fat 54.7, SaturatedFat 19.5, Cholesterol 66.8, Sodium 665.9, Carbohydrate 169.2, Fiber 5, Sugar 115.2, Protein 13.8
CLASSIC GREEK BAKLAVA
Make and share this Classic Greek Baklava recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Chuck Hughes
Categories Dessert
Time 2h25m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9 by 13-inch pan.
- Mix the nuts with cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Set aside.
- Unroll the phyllo pastry. Cut the whole stack in half to fit the pan. Cover the phyllo with a dampened clean kitchen towel to keep the phyllo from drying out as you work. Lay 2 phyllo sheets in the pan and using a brush, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 6 sheets layered.
- Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups nut mixture on top. Layer with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter and add nuts to end up with 4 layers of nuts and dough. The top layer should be about 6 to 8 phyllo sheets deep.
- Using a sharp knife, cut diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut 4 long rows then make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the baklava is golden and crisp.
- Make the sauce while the baklava is baking. Boil the water and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the honey and vanilla. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the sauce over it. Let cool.
- In the meantime, place the grapes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until the grapes start to burst.
- Serve the baklava with Greek yogurt, the baked grapes and a drizzle of honey and crushed walnuts.
- Cook's Notes:.
- Walnuts can be replaced by any kind of nuts or a combination of nuts. Phyllo pastry is available in the freezer section of most grocery stores.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 2428, Fat 129.9, SaturatedFat 31.5, Cholesterol 81.3, Sodium 1568.1, Carbohydrate 296.5, Fiber 14.2, Sugar 140.5, Protein 38
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the final flavor of your baklava.
- Don't overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will make it tough.
- Be patient when assembling the baklava. It takes time to layer the dough and nuts, but it's worth it in the end.
- Bake the baklava until it is golden brown. This will ensure that it is cooked through.
- Let the baklava cool completely before serving. This will allow the syrup to soak into the baklava and make it even more delicious.
Conclusion:
Baklava is a delicious and decadent dessert that is perfect for any occasion. With a little patience and effort, you can make this classic Greek pastry at home. Just be sure to follow the tips above and you'll be sure to impress your friends and family with your culinary skills.
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