Thursday, July 1, 2010

Baklava

Baklava is a sweet pastry made using phyllo dough or puff pastry sheets.

Hubby and myself tasted this crunchy dessert for the first time in an Afghan restaurant in Long Island, NY. At that time I couldn't remember the name or believe if I could do it myself in some point of time. But slowly Baklava started getting much closer to us after he joined this new office and I started trying several ways to get his favorite. The only thing I knew was the taste and invented some recipes of my own. First I tried from scratch, i.e., using All purpose flour, that was a good one. (If you can't find the pastry sheets and want a recipe from scratch, just ask for one through the comment and I will be more than happy to publish that too). But the process was enormous and I couldn't prepare many. So searched the web and got some ideas. Faiza Ali has the best using phyllo.  Then I tried using the phyllo dough , which is claimed to be the most authentic way. But the process of separating the phyllo layers was much difficult and I ended up with a scrambled baklava :) .

Again I bought some puff pastry shells and it was super easy as well as perfect for a beginner like me. It was just removing the pastry top, fill the cavity with the sweet nut mix, close, bake and soak it in honey:) That gave me enough confidence to try it again. So if you want a very quick rich dessert, then buy some 'puff pastry shells' instead of 'sheets'.

While googling I got a perfect recipe from Baking bites and many others.Then prepared it using puff pastry sheets and all of our also friends like that.Nowadays if there comes a long weekend hubby never forgets to fill up the freezer with these pastry sheets:)

This recipe comes handy if we wish to prepare two or more desserts for a party , as this can be made in advance and stored. Here goes the recipe for the Baklava using puff pastry sheets.

Ingredients:
Puff pastry sheets - one box (16 oz)
Walnut (finely chopped) - 1 cup
cinnamon powder - 1/4 tsp
brown sugar - 1/2 + 1/4 cup
honey - 1/4 cup
butter - 1 tsp

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 deg F.

Bring the puff pastry sheet to room temperature as per direction.


Generally there will be two sheets. Take an aluminum foil and coat it with oil.
Place one sheet. Using a pizza cutter or knife divide it into 9 or more pieces. Similarly do the same for the other sheet also and keep aside.

Arrange them with a spacing of 1.5 inch in between.


Mix the finely chopped walnut with cinnamon powder, butter and 1/2 cup sugar.
Spread this mix over one set of squares.



Cover each square with an piece of pastry sheet and make a diagonal slit to facilitate baking.


Bake this in 375 deg F for 10 minutes and check if it is puffed up. Otherwise increase the timing by 5 minutes. (See instructions in the pack).
In the mean time bring to boil a 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup water. Let it achieve a syrup like consistency. Then add a pinch of cinnamon + vanilla essence to it. Let it cool.


Take the baked baklava out.


Pour the prepared syrup in a pan and place the baklava over it. Drizzle some honey over the baklava and we are all set now.



Serve the Baklava immediately or cool. Baklava is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Makes 9 Baklava.
Serve as dessert.

25 comments:

PranisKitchen said...

really delicious one viki.If u use fillo pastry sheet instead of puff pastry sheet.looks so delicious and our favorite one.

Satya said...

baklava looks delicious....very new but awesome looking dessert ..thanks for sharing ....hey viki did u c my vanilla cake post which i posted yesterday??

VineelaSiva said...

Wow i am drooling viki.I love this but dont know thanx for sharing the recipe.

Swathi said...

Viki

This nice idea of making Baklava. I was thinking of making with phyllo sheets. This one seems to easy. Thanks.

Shama Nagarajan said...

truly divine dear..nice stepwise instructions

Priya Suresh said...

Baklava looks great and soo inviting, seriously am gonna shift near to u..

Sandhya Hariharan said...

Very interesting dessert.. Viki.. worth a go!!!

Hope all is well at ur end Viki.. I m blog hopping after a long holiday..
Have an event on Indian flavoured flatbreads running at my space.
DO participate.

Cheers
Sandhya

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Ummm this looks absolutely tasty,crispy and yummy.
Hey Viki saw your vanilla cake tried by Satya :-)

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Rachana said...

These baklava's look seriously inviting! Lovely step by step pics.

Suja Manoj said...

Wow drooling here..Baklava looks inviting..thanks for sharing this recipe dear.

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

ohh you tempted me Viki but the problem here is we do not get puff pastry sheets readymade. looks awesome and you have explained it well with pictures.

Sushma Mallya said...

Looks yum & tempting

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thank you friends.
Sandhya: Thanks dear. I will try to send some.
sayantani: Thanks dear. I will make a post on doing it from scratch (which I tried for the first time). I too like to have the alternate versions instead of trying to buy an unavailable ingredient. Glad that you pointed it out:)

divya said...

truly divine dear..nice stepwise instructions

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Viki
It has been ages I last ate this...
Yesterday my Collegue Lucy, arrived back from Saudi with Baklava...
I finished half the pack...you know how crazy the bongs are when it is sweets. I need to find out if these sheets are avialable in Delhi!
Have a nice weekend

Indian Khana said...

Wow this looks so tempting ..making me drool....simple recipe with yummy taste I guess...gr8 one Viki :)

Ash said...

Viki is playing tricky with e-delivering the yumminess of that tempting & mouth watering prep..... Perfectly prepared & captured too... Kudos!!!!

Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Unknown said...

awesome dessert..liooks delicious..

Yasmeen said...

Sweet! I didn't know one can make baklava with puff pastries,definitely easier than phyllo :D

Myvegfare said...

Oh! I have yet to try this, I got this from a book I have!!, yours look gorgeous!!, thanks for all the tips, beautiful clicks viki, they look so yummy.....

sanjeeta kk said...

Good to be here. Like the template of your blog. Nice recipes and well presented. Following you to get more of such delicacies.
Best wishes.

Panchpakwan said...

Wow home made looks so yuumy..comeout so perfet. Woutwatering sweet dish.

Anita said...

This is really a nice recipe, I just love bakhalva. Thanks for sharing.

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Hey Viki,
Just dropped in to say hello:-)
Hope everything is ok .No posts from you ...
Take care
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Anita said...

thanks for visiyng my blog, viki.

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