Tantalize your taste buds with the exquisite delicacy of baklava, a rich and indulgent pastry with a rich history spanning centuries. Originating in the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire, this layered dessert has captivated palates worldwide with its filo pastry sheets, filled with a mixture of chopped nuts, sweetened with syrup or honey, and often garnished with nuts or spices. This curated collection of recipes unveils the secrets of creating this delectable treat, offering variations that cater to diverse preferences and dietary restrictions. From classic baklava to gluten-free and vegan interpretations, these recipes provide step-by-step guidance to ensure success in crafting this culinary masterpiece. As you embark on this sweet journey, let the enchanting flavors of baklava transport you to a realm of pure indulgence.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
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
TOPANGA HONEY ROLLED BAKLAVA
Duff Goldman based this recipe for rolled baklava on one from his Moldovan great grandmother. She was an amazing baker and when she made baklava everyone from the neighborhood would come over to enjoy a piece. Instead of spreading the filling over the phyllo, she would make a paste then roll it in the dough, resulting in the most delicious center. To add more crunch and texture to the baklava, Duff sprinkles the phyllo with toasted panko that's sweetened with sugar, yielding flakier layers.
Provided by Duff Goldman
Categories dessert
Time 2h
Yield 24 rolled baklavas
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- For the honey syrup: Combine the honey, granulated sugar, lemon juice, salt, sliced ginger, anise and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Meanwhile, for the baklava: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Brush 1 tablespoon of the clarified butter evenly all over a 9-by-9-inch baking pan.
- Melt the 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a small saute pan over medium heat. Once melted, add the panko and granulated sugar. Toast, stirring often, for a few minutes until slightly golden. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small bowl.
- Add the dates, raisins, brown sugar, orange blossom water, cinnamon, ground ginger and salt to a food processor and pulse until the dried fruit is finely chopped. Add the almonds and process again until just combined. Transfer to a clean work surface and roll into eight thin 10-inch-long logs.
- Lay one sheet of phyllo onto a clean surface and lightly brush with some of the remaining melted clarified butter. Lay a second sheet of phyllo directly on top of the first, brush with more clarified butter and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of the panko mixture. Fold the phyllo sheets in half crosswise; place one of the date logs at the short end of the sheets and begin to roll the dough over the date log, continuing until the entire phyllo sheet has been rolled. You will end up with a phyllo cigar.
- Transfer the cigar to the prepared baking pan and lay horizontally. Brush the top lengthwise with some of the remaining melted clarified butter and repeat the process with the remaining phyllo and date logs. You will need 8 cigars to fill the pan. Brush the baklava with some of the remaining clarified butter once again. Using a sharp knife, slice vertically down in three equal sections, creating twenty-four 3-inch pieces. Bake until the baklava are golden brown, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Baste the baklava with the remaining clarified butter at 30 and 45 minutes into the baking time. Rotate the pan 180 degrees halfway through the baking.
- Strain the solids from the honey syrup and discard. Pour the syrup over the hot baklava immediately after removing from the oven and allow to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes to soak up all the syrup.
BAKLAVA
This traditional Mediterranean pastry makes a lovely ending to a holiday meal.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Healthy Recipes Vegetarian Recipes
Yield Makes 48 pieces
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine nuts, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in a bowl.
- Unroll phyllo; halve crosswise. Immediately cover with plastic wrap and then a damp towel. Keep covered while working.
- Brush a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan with melted butter. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo in pan. Lightly brush with butter; cover with another sheet of phyllo, and butter again. Layer phyllo and butter 5 more times, ending with phyllo.
- Sprinkle phyllo with 2 tablespoons nut mixture. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo over, brush with butter, and cover with a sheet of phyllo. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons nut mixture; repeat layering with butter, phyllo, and nuts until filling is used up, for a total of about 21 layers. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo over; brush with butter. Layer phyllo and butter six more times.
- Using a sharp knife, score the surface of the pastry (1/4 inch deep) diagonally into diamonds (about 2 inches long). Bake until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 3 to 4 minutes.
- Pour the syrup over surface of baklava; let cool completely. To serve, use a sharp knife to cut into pieces along scored lines.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better the baklava will be.
- Make sure the phyllo dough is at room temperature before using it. This will help prevent it from cracking.
- Roll the phyllo dough out thinly. The thinner the dough, the crispier the baklava will be.
- Brush each layer of phyllo dough with melted butter. This will help the layers stick together and create a golden brown crust.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the baklava into pieces. This will help prevent the baklava from crumbling.
- Bake the baklava until it is golden brown and the syrup is bubbling. This will ensure that the baklava is cooked through.
- Let the baklava cool completely before serving. This will allow the syrup to set and the baklava to firm up.
Conclusion:
Baklava is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a perfect treat for special occasions or everyday snacks. With a little planning and effort, you can easily make baklava at home. So next time you are looking for a sweet treat, give baklava a try!
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