Bahar: Baklava or baklawa is a sweet dessert which is originated from Turkey but has been adapted by Iran and many other Arab countries. It is usually made from layers of phylo dough and filled with chopped walnuts or pistachios. Baklava is usually sweetened with a syrup which is made from rosewater and saffron in Iran but can be replaced by honey as well.
Main Ingredients:
Phyllo dough: 15 sheets
Butter: 1/4 cup (melted)
Walnuts: 1/2 cup (ground or well crushed)
Coconut powder, crushed pistachio: to decorate
2. Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.
3. Unroll phyllo dough and cover with a slightly dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work.
4. Fold a phyllo sheet to fit the pan. Place it in the pan and butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 4 folded sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 - 3 tbsp of walnuts (ground or well crushed) on top. Repeat this step 2 more times.
5. Top the last layer of nuts with a folded phyllo sheet, butter thoroughly and repeat until you have no more phyllo sheets (you may or may not butter the last layer).
6. Use a sharp knife and cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan.
7. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until baklava is golden-brown and crisp.
8. While baklava is baking, make the syrup as follows: Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Dissolve the saffron in 2 tbsp of hot water and add it to the syrup (optional). Add cardamom to the syrup and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the syrup is slightly thicken. Add the rosewater and simmer for one more minute. Remove from the heat and add 1-2 drops of fresh lemon juice. Let the syrup to be cooled. *
9. Remove baklava from oven and immediately pour the syrup over it. Decorate with crushed pistachio or any other nuts of your choice and/or coconut powder. Let cool. Do not cover it until it is fully cooled.
*: You can make the syrup beforehand, store it in the fridge for 1-2 months and use it whenever you want. However, make sure to use the lemon juice drops if you are going with this option. The baked baklava absorbs the syrup better if the syrup is cold.
Hi, I have tried making this recipe two-three times now. Although, I LOVE the syrup but the dough part itself is disappointing. It turns out too crispy from the bottom and the top that it doesn't stick together. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. It tastes amazing but I feel the syrup doesn't penetrate into all of the layers because of the crispyness. Any suggesstions on what i am doing wrong?
Hello.If you don't like it too cripsy then try baking it for a shorter time. I may suggest baking it for about 5-10 minutes shorter (so for 35-40 min). The best way perhaps is for you to check it after 20-25 minutes and take it out whenever you wish as long as it is slightly golden (and thus baked). It is easier to check if you bake it in a glass dish. As for the syrup, pour it *cold* all over the *warm* baklava and specially on the sides and the cuts that you earlier made on it.
Kristen, Guest
2009 Oct 24
I had this in a restrant and it was awesome! Then I made it at home and it was good too. Is there a differtent time for baking if it is an convection oven? Thanks
Sabrina, Guest from: Mississauga, On
2010 Jun 22
Hello! I'm doing the baklava in the same way, only I use around 500 mg walnuts/package. I start with 2 foils(buttered) and I alternate large grounded nuts at every 2 buttered phyllo foils. I use a sliced vanilla bean in the syrup.The rest is the same. It is very popular in the Balkan countries too!
