Baklava

Baklava is a Turkish dessert. It is a rich, sweet pastry made of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with sugar or honey syrup.

Preparation time : 1 hour 30 mins
Makes : 30

Ingredients :

Phyllo sheets : one packet
Melted butter : 1/2 cup
Pistachio : 1 cup (or your choice)
Ground cinnamon : 3/4 tsp
Ground cloves : pinch

For syrup :
Honey : 1/2 cup
Water : 3/4 cup
Sugar : 3/4 cup
Vanilla extract : 3/4 tsp

Method :

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Make the syrup by adding the water and sugar to a pan over medium heat.
Stir until sugar has dissolved.
Add the honey and vanilla extract.
Bring to a boil and then lower the heat to a simmer.
Simmer for 15 mins stirring occasionally.
Let syrup cool completely.

Roast the nuts , let them cool down a bit and chop them roughly (or you can put them in food processor but be careful not to grind them , just finely chop them )
Pour the nuts in a bowl and mix cinnamon and clove .

Unroll the phyllo dough.
Cut the dough with scissors to fit your baking dish.
Brush the bottom and sides of the baking dish with butter. (Don't over do with the butter as it will make the baklava soggy )

Then lay 10 pieces of phyllo dough, one at a time in the baking dish, Lightly butter each sheet after you place it in the dish.
After 10 sheets, add one thin layer of nuts, spread them over to cover the entire layer.
Then add 3 more pieces of phyllo sheets, one at  a time , buttering each sheet as you place it in.
Then add another layer of nuts.
Alternate between 3 layers of dough to a one layer of nuts until all the nuts are used.
Finish with 10 sheets of phyllo dough for the top.
Butter the last layer on the top also.
Then cut the baklava into squares before baking it in the oven.

Bake it in oven for 40 to 55 mins or until it is golden brown.

Once you remove the baklava from the oven, pour the cooled honey mixture over the top.

Let it sit for at least 4 hours before eating.

Delicious baklava is ready to eat.
Enjoy your dish :)
Thank you, do post your comments !!!