Baklava

Delicious Baklava - A Quick and Spectacular Dessert Recipe

Preparation time: 60 minutes
Baking time: 45 minutes
Total time: 105 minutes
Number of servings: 20

Baklava is an iconic dessert, known for its thin layers of dough, rich nut filling, and aromatic sweet syrup. This dessert is often associated with celebrations, but it is also perfect for ordinary days when you're craving something special. Here's how you can make it at home with simple ingredients and lots of love.

Ingredients:

- 750 g flour
- 2 eggs (you can use 4 eggs if you want to double the recipe)
- 3 tablespoons yogurt
- 150 ml milk
- 400 g butter (melted)
- 200 g starch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder dissolved in the juice of half a lemon
- 500 g walnuts (ground)
- 4 cups sugar
- 3 cups water
- 1 vanilla essence
- juice from half a lemon

Preparing the Baklava:

1. Preparing the ingredients:
Before you start cooking, make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature. Take the eggs, yogurt, and milk out of the fridge about 2 hours before you begin. This step is essential for achieving a smooth and soft dough.

2. Preparing the dough:
In a large bowl, add the two eggs, yogurt, milk, 200 g of melted butter, the baking powder dissolved in lemon juice, and flour, a little at a time. Mix the ingredients with a spatula or by hand until a homogeneous dough forms. If you don't have a large enough food processor, don't worry; manual kneading is just as effective.

3. Dividing the dough:
Once you have the dough, divide it into 3 equal parts. Use a scale to ensure each part is uniform. Then, each of the 3 parts of dough should be divided again into about 9 equal pieces.

4. Forming the sheets:
On a surface sprinkled with starch, take a piece of dough and roll it out with a rolling pin until you get a thin sheet the size of a palm. Place another sheet of dough on top and repeat the process, making sure to add starch between layers to prevent them from sticking. Continue layering 3-4 sheets of dough.

5. Placing in the pan:
With all the sheets rolled out, place them in the prepared pan (20x30 cm), forming half of the baklava layer. At the end of this process, you should have a base of thin, almost transparent sheets.

6. The filling:
Evenly sprinkle the ground walnuts over the first layers of dough. This will provide not only a delicious taste but also a crunchy texture that contrasts with the soft dough.

7. Finalizing the baklava:
Continue layering the remaining sheets of dough, covering the walnut filling. Once finished, cut the baklava into desired shapes - squares or diamonds, as preferred. Pour the remaining melted butter over the baklava, ensuring that each piece is well covered.

8. Baking:
Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the pan inside. Bake the baklava for 30-45 minutes, or until it turns golden and crispy on top. It is important not to leave it too long, so it doesn't dry out.

9. Preparing the syrup:
In the meantime, in a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla essence. Simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.

10. Finishing touches:
Once the baklava is baked and the syrup is ready, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool completely at room temperature. After it has cooled, pour the hot syrup over the baklava. It is important to wait about 12 hours before serving, so the syrup can be absorbed and you achieve a perfect dessert.

Tips and tricks:

- Starch: Used between the layers of dough, starch improves the texture of the baklava and prevents the layers from sticking. You can also use flour, but starch provides a finer texture.
- Nuts: You can experiment with different types of nuts, such as almonds or hazelnuts, to achieve varied flavors.
- Serving: Baklava is usually served alongside aromatic tea or Turkish coffee, which perfectly complements the sweetness of the dessert.
- Storage: If you have leftover baklava, you can store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Nutritional benefits:
Baklava contains nuts rich in healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants, while the syrup adds an extra energy boost. However, it is important to consume these treats in moderation, considering the high sugar and calorie content.

Frequently asked questions:

1. Can I use ready-made pie dough?
Yes, for a quick dessert, pie dough is a good option.

2. How can I prevent the dough sheets from sticking?
Make sure to use enough starch between sheets and work on a well-floured surface.

3. Can baklava be frozen?
Yes, baklava can be frozen, but it is recommended to let it thaw at room temperature before serving.

4. Can I replace sugar with a natural sweetener?
Yes, you can experiment with honey or maple syrup, but adjust the quantities to achieve the desired sweetness.

In conclusion, baklava is a dessert that will not only delight your taste buds but will also bring a touch of joy to every moment spent with loved ones. Don't hesitate to try this recipe at home and enjoy every crunchy and sweet layer. Enjoy your meal!

 Ingredients: for a tray measuring 20x30: 750 gr. flour, 2 eggs (in the pictures there will be 4 eggs because I doubled the quantities), 3 tablespoons yogurt, 150 ml. milk, 400 gr. butter, 200 gr. starch, 1 teaspoon baking powder dissolved in a splash of lemon juice, 500 gr. walnuts, 4 cups sugar, 3 cups water, 1 vanilla essence, the juice of half a lemon.

 Tags:  baklava