Baklava – A Fresh Tradition
February 20, 2012
Baklava – A Fresh Tradition
Love At First Bite Baklava Recipe
Love at First Bite - Baklava
This post is part of the Sweet Adventures Blog Hop. I had so much fun participating in the last blog hop, making my Double Chocolate Semifreddo, and I discovered a fabulous array of amazing food blogs that I couldn’t resist participating in this month’s one also.
Sweet is not necessarily on the Fresh side of the fence, but I do believe that a treat once in awhile is good for you 🙂
The theme of this month’s Sweet Adventures Blog Hop is Love at First Bite – I immediately knew what I would make.
Some time ago a friend I worked with brought in some of her mum’s home made baklava. Love at first bite. *Swoon* Oh my gosh, melt in my mouth, sweet, crunchy, nutty, gorgeousness!!! Helen’s mum created a beautiful food memory that day at the round table we gathered at for our girly chats about shoes and weekend activities.
This recipe is an adaption from a Delicious Magazine recipe I had filed away and Helen’s mum secret to amazing baklava – to use almonds instead of the traditional use of walnuts.
I have a secret nut addiction to pecans and pistachios so I couldn’t resist adding them in with Mrs S’s almonds.
Baklava Recipe
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
- 150 grams of slivered almonds
- 100 grams of pecans – chopped
- 200 grams of pistachio nuts – chopped
- 1/2 cup of castor sugar
- zest of 2 oranges
- 1 tablespoon of juice from an orange
- 135 grams of unsalted butter
- 6 sheets of filo pastry
- honey – I used Des O’Toole’s Cold Extracted Orange Blossom blend
- icing sugar to serve
Steps:
- In a heated pan first toast the almonds and then the pecans
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees
- Line a loaf tray with baking paper – eg: a tray with sides about 8 cm high
- Put all of the nuts, sugar, orange zest, juice and 80 grams of softened butter into a bowl and mix together to combine
- Melt the remaining butter
- Cut the filo shapes into strips to fit the tray then keep covered with a damp tea towel while you work
- Place 4 pieces of filo into the bottom of the pan, brushing each sheet with the melted butter before adding the next sheet on top
- Spread one third of the nut mix on top of the pastry and then continue to layer another 3-4 pieces, brushing with butter between each one.
- Repeat until the nut mix has been used and finish with 2 pieces of filo on top.
- Place in the oven to bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden
- Cool and remove from the tray
- Drizzle with honey and dust with icing sugar
- Slice into pieces to serve
A perfect accompaniment to an afternoon cup of tea.
Is my version as good as Mrs S’s version? No way, but it is delicious, especially for those of you who are not privileged enough to have tried Mrs S’s version 😉
Prepare ingredients
Lay nut mix on top of the first layer of filo
Complete layers and cook in oven
Drizzle with honey and icing sugar
Enjoy! What was your Love at First Bite?
Visit some of the amazing entries shown below to view some fabulous entries from other bloggers.
Inspiring families to grow at least one fresh food item at home to experience the benefits of fresh food.
Your baklava looks divine!!! Thanks for sharing your friends secret tips. I prefer actually prefer almonds so walnuts, so I will keep this in mind if I ever make baklava.
Thank you for joining us in this blog hop.
Thanks for stopping by Jennifer.
Love baklava and you make it seem quite easy to make… I must say I have not yet delved into it, but am now inspired.
Hi Lizzy, yes it is super easy and yum to boot 🙂
Ohh my lordy! This looks amazing! Baklava is my all time fave dessert!! One of my greek clients Maria just brought me a container full from her 50th Birthday. She made a cple of different shapes which she said to keep in the freezer so they last longer. She said we could also eat them straight from the freezer rather than defrosting which we did & it is amazing. They stay crispy, fresh & the slight frozen texture is something worth trying. Giv it a go u will love it! She also makes hers with almonds rather than walnuts or pistacio’s. (Must be a greek specialty) 🙂
That sounds great Chrissy, I will have to give it a go. Are you ok with the honey in the recipe?
Hi Kyrstie, Looks amazing! I am a sucker for baklava and can’t get enough of Abla’s Baklava (a restaurant in Melbourne). I will definitely have to give it a go and try my own. It might be a bit dangerous though as it is quite morish! Love your the header of your blog btw and lovely to meet you in the blog hop!
Hi Prue, thanks for reading. I will have to put Abla’s on my list of things to try. Thank you for your lovely feedback.
Baklava is up there as one of my favourite desserts. I love that yours has much more chunk to it. It looks amazing! Thanks so much for joining the hop 🙂
Hi Nic, thanks for hosting the hop. I really enjoying reading all of the amazing entries and always have fun creating my own. Yes – my baklava is chunky. Mainly because I left myself only one hour (child free) to create it for this post and make dinner at the same time! I have to say I did enjoy the texture of the chunks 🙂
Baklava was one Daring Bakers’ challenge I missed doing that I actually really wanted to complete! Yours looks amazing and I’d best get on with making some myself this year 🙂
Thank you for reading Monica, I am intrigued – what is the Daring Bakers’ challenge?
Yum! I bought some honey back from Tassie, this would be a great recipe to use it in!
Great idea Nic, I hear they have delicious honey in Tassie.
Wow – I’ve never tried to make baklava at home. I do love it so thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Christina
Baklava is a great favourite of mine and living in the Middle East I have eaten my fair share… my kids say it’s like throwing buns to an elephant! Your baklava look delicious!
Thanks Moya, you must have sampled some amazing versions I am sure! I love the saying from your kids 🙂
Mmmm yum, I love Baklava – I can’t believe how simple it is to make at home. Just thinking about that sweet, runny, syrupy drizzle is making my mouth water.
Your Baklava looks healthy!. I love the mix of chunky nuts.
yum! We used to have baklava every Christmas so it brings back lovely sugar-coma memories 😉 Like the combo of nuts as well, great idea. Thanks for joining the hop!