Baklava soaked in syrup, filled with walnuts and garnished with pistachios

Baklava soaked in syrup, filled with walnuts and garnished with pistachios

Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry made from layers of filo dough, filled with chopped walnuts, sweetened and thickened with syrup or honey. It is a dessert celebrated in many  Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Balkan cultures. Here are step-by-step instructions for making syrup-soaked, walnut-filled, and pistachio-topped baklava.

 Ingredients

 FOR THE BAKLAVA:

• 1 package phyllo dough (thawed according to package instructions)
• 2 cups mixed nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, and pistachios), finely chopped
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 FOR THE SYRUP:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 strip lemon peel

 FOR THE topping:

• 1/2 cup pistachios, finely chopped

 Instructions

 STEP 1: PREPARE  NUTS

1. Mix the nuts: In a bowl, mix the finely chopped mixed nuts with the ground cinnamon.This mixture will be the filling for your baklava.

 STEP 2: PREPARE  FILO DOUGH

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Butter Pan: Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan with some  melted butter.3. Phyllo Layers: Place a sheet of phyllo dough in the pan and brush  with melted butter. Repeat this process until you have layered about 8 sheets, brushing each sheet with butter.

 STEP 3: ADD WALNUT MIXTURE

1. Add nuts: Spread a thin layer of nut mixture over the top layer of phyllo.2. Continue layering: Cover the nuts with two more phyllo sheets and spread each  with butter. Repeat the process of adding nuts and layering phyllo sheets (two sheets at a time), finishing with a top layer of about 6 to 8 phyllo sheets. Remember to butter each leaf.

 STEP 4: CUT THE BAKLAVA

1.Cut into pieces: Using a sharp knife, cut the baklava into a diamond or square shape, making sure to cut through all the layers.

 STEP 5: BAKE

1. Bake: Place the baklava in the preheated oven and bake for about 50 minutes or until the phyllo is golden brown and crispy.

 STEP 6: PREPARE  SYRUP

1. Combine ingredients: While the baklava is baking, combine the water, sugar, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon stick and lemon peel in a saucepan over medium heat.2. Bring to the boil and simmer: Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and  simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove  cinnamon stick and lemon peel.
2. Cool: Let the syrup cool down a little.STEP 7: SOAKING BAKLAVA
3. Pour the syrup over the hot baklava: As soon as the baklava comes out of the oven, pour the slightly cooled syrup evenly over the hot baklava.
4. Allow to Soak: Allow the baklava to completely absorb the syrup and cool to room temperature. This may take several hours or overnight.

 STEP 8: ADD TOP

1. Top with pistachios: Sprinkle finely chopped pistachios over the baklava just before serving for a beautiful presentation and added flavor.

 Tips for a perfect baklava

• Keep the filo dough covered: filo dough dries out quickly.Cover unused sheets with a damp towel as you work.
• Brush generously with butter: Don’t skimp on the butter between the filo dough layers, as it contributes to a golden, crispy consistency.
• Cut before baking: Always cut baklava before baking to make serving easier and to ensure that the syrup penetrates each layer.
• Pour the syrup over the hot baklava: For better absorption, the syrup should be cold and poured over the baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven.

Enjoy your homemade baklava soaked in syrup, filled with walnuts and garnished with pistachios, a perfect sweet  for any occasion!