Last week David was appalled to find his Bosnian co-worker claiming that baklava was one of their national desserts. To be fair they are both right! The history of baklava is a bit sketchy, to say the least, and many countries make their own versions or variations of baklava. The Ottoman Empire controlled much of Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, and the Balkan States so it’s no surprise they share many cuisines, flavors, history, and architecture. However, the oldest known ancestor to baklava is believed to be the Ancient Roman placenta cake, placenta is derived from the Greek word plakous, meaning “thin, layered flatbreads,” *cough* need I say anymore!
What is Baklava?
Baklava is a pastry dessert made with layers of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with a sugary honey syrup. In Greece, it is traditionally made with thirty-three layers of filo pastry to signify and represent the 33 years that Jesus lived.
How To Make Sticky And Tasty Traditional Greek Baklava:
Πώς να φτιάξετε κολλώδη και νόστιμο παραδοσιακό ελληνικό μπακλαβά
Pós na ftiáxete kollódi kai nóstimo paradosiakó ellinikó baklavá
Ingredients:
- 1 package filo pastry
- 1 cup of chopped nuts
- 125g butter
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup white sugar
- ½ cup honey
- Handful of dried cherries
How To Make Greek Baklava:
- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9×13-inch pan.
- Crush nuts and chop dried cherries then set aside.
- Unroll the filo pastry and cut the whole stack to fit the pan. Cover the filo pastry with a dampened cloth to keep it from drying out.
- Place two sheets of filo pastry in a pan, and butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered up.
- Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of filo pastry, butter and nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 to 8 sheets deep.
- Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes to the bottom of the pan.
- Bake for about 50 minutes until the baklava is golden and crisp.
- Whilst the baklava is baking make the syrup. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted then add honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon syrup over it. Top with dried chopped cherries and crushed nuts.
- Let it cool and enjoy 🙂
