September 23, 2015

Baklava using Homemade Phyllo Pastry / #worldfoodguide


Baklava is a traditional Arabian dessert prepared using Phyllo pastry sheets, Nuts and Sugar-Honey Syrup. It is a rich and succulent sweet which makes everyone drool. This dish looks very complicated but actually, it is a easy dessert when phyllo sheets are ready. Phyllo pastry sheets are available in a gourmet stores but for this recipe, I had followed few you tube videos and my co-blogger sites to prepare homemade sheets and it worked perfect. Though the sheet making process is time consuming and tedious, the first bite of baklava takes off all the pain. It is juicy, crispy on the top and on the whole, heavenly :)

This is one of my long awaited sweet to try and got a lovely chance through  WORLD FOOD GUIDE event. Myself and Lakshmi Vimala from cookingclub17.blogspot.com have joined hands to host this Interesting event. Click HERE for more info. Our September month theme is Aphablet A - Arabian and this Baklava, an arabian dessert goes to this event. This event is open for both bloggers and non - bloggers with an amazing award " Awesome Chef  Of WFG". So, what are waiting for? Join the fun, learn world cuisine and win title.


Ingredients :

100 gms Butter, melted ( for layering )

For Phyllo Pastry sheets :

2 Cups All purpose flour / Maida
2 Tsp Vinegar
1 Tsp Oil
1/2 - 3/4 Cup Hot water

For Filling :

1/2 Cup Cashews
3/4 Cup Pistachio
1/2 Cup Almonds
1/4 Cup Sugar

For Syrup :

1/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Tsp Lemon rind
1/2 Tsp Lemon Juice
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Essence
1/2 Tsp Rose Essence

Method :

For Phyllo Pastry sheets :

Take All purpose flour in a bowl and add vinegar followed by oil.
Add hot water little by little and mix well to prepare a soft dough.
Cover it and keep aside for 2 hours.
Divide the dough into 20 equal balls.
Take one ball and roll it very thin and transparent using rolling pin.
Roll the dough according to the size of the pan, as I have used a round pan, rolled it into circular shape.
Place it in a flour dusted plate and repeat the process for remaining balls.
Sprinkle generous amount of flour between sheets.
Cover the rolled sheets with damp cloth and keep aside.

For Filling :

Take Pistachio, Almonds, Cashews and sugar in a mixer jar / blender.
Grind it coarsely and  keep aside.

For Baklava :

Preheat the oven at 180 degree C for 10 minutes.
Take a pan ( I have used round shaped pan ) and brush it with generous amount of butter.
Place 3 phyllo sheets inside the pan and brush it again with the melted butter.
Now layer it evenly with the ground nuts and place two phyllo sheets above the nuts mixture.
Again brush it with generous amount of melted butter and layer it with the ground mixture.
Repeat the process until the ground mixture gets over.
Top of the pan should contain phyllo sheets.
Brush the melted butter on top of it and cut into desired shape using knife.
Be very careful while cutting it.
Smear the remaining butter on gaps and bake it for 25- 30 mins at 180 degree C or until the top layer turns
crispy and light brown.



Keep aside till the sugar syrup is prepared.

For Sugar Syrup :

Take sugar in a bowl and add honey followed by the measured water.
Simmer the flame and let the sugar melt.
Add lemon zest followed by lemon juice, vanilla essence and rose essence.
Boil it till it gets the syrup consistency ( Not String consistency).





Now pour the prepared syrup on the warm baklava and keep side for 10 minutes.

Remove from the pan carefully and serve hot.




Note :

The actual recipe calls for pista and walnuts but I have replaced it with 3 types of nuts to make it more rich and tasty. 

While preparing sugar syrup, orange juice and zest can also be added instead of lemon. 

6 comments:

  1. so delicious... looks good. I've never made phyllo at home. I should try it as we don't get phyllo pastry where I live.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for sharing phyllo pastry recipe.. we don't get it in Brazil. Never seen it in the stores though there is a large Lebanese population here. Guess they must be making it at home :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. awesome dear.here in my place/brasil can see this arabi ppl sweet shops whr they sell these sweets..love d home made version n nice pics...tempting actaully..

    ReplyDelete
  4. awesome post Raks :) homemade phyllo rocking... my fav dessert

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow awesome. It's drooling sis..........

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's just awesome. You have really done a great job. If you want to get some more tasty and rich quality baklava then you should go baklava to buy in Dubai. They will provide you all rich quality baklava at a best price.

    ReplyDelete