5 Surprising Nutrition Facts About Baklava | HUMMUS Bowls & Wraps | Mediterranean & Greek Restaurant (2024)

FAQs

Does baklava have any nutritional value? ›

Baklava is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals

Nuts are an excellent source of heart-healthy fats, protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium, vitamin E, and selenium. This makes Baklava a dessert that contributes positively to your nutrient intake.

It has strong religious roots.

Even though people might not think about it today, Baklava has been associated quite strongly with different religions. In Greece, it is traditionally made with thirty-three layers of dough which each layer representing one year of the life of Christ.

The nuts, honey, and phyllo pastry used to make baklava provide a rich source of essential nutrients, including protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Additionally, baklava may help to improve heart health, boost energy levels, aid digestion, help with weight management, and improve brain function.

In Greece, it's a customary dessert during festive occasions and family gatherings, especially during Easter and Christmas. But it's not uncommon to see it enjoyed as a daily indulgence, either. One thing's for sure, the homemade version of baklava is leagues ahead of any store-bought version!

The baking process is what really gives baklava its crisp and flaky texture. This is because the pastry is layered in such a way that the top and bottom filo dough sheets bake together, creating a crispy flaky crust.

13 g of Baklava contains 19.50 mcg vitamin A, 0.2 mg vitamin C, 0.00 mcg vitamin D as well as 0.25 mg of iron, 3.51 mg of calcium, 17 mg of potassium. Baklava belong to 'Cakes and pies' food category.

However, baklava is a celebratory dessert. You'll need a longer list of ingredients if you're making baklava for about 30-50 guests. All these ingredients come at a cost. A kilo of unshelled pistachios, for example, costs about $29.

The three main proposals for the roots of baklava are the Greek placenta cake, the Medieval Arab/Persian lauzinaj, and the Central Asian Turkic tradition of layered breads. There are also claims attributing baklava to the Assyrians, according to which baklava was prepared by them in the 8th century BC.

1 unit of baklava (Andalos) contains 90 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 55% carbs, 41% fat, and 5% protein.

Is baklava bad for cholesterol? ›

A slice of baklava has 11 g of total fat, including 7.5 g of unsaturated fat, 2 g of saturated fat and 1.5 g of trans fat. This provides about 17 percent of the daily value for fat and 10 percent of the daily value for saturated fat. A slice of baklava contains no cholesterol.

Baklava is a delicious Greek dessert made up of layers of crispy phyllo dough, honey and nuts that's sooo easy to make. A Greek friend showed me how to make this fabulous recipe.

Fact 1: The holy Baklava dessert

In the Greek edition of this dessert, the 33 layers of phyllo represent the 33 priceless years that Jesus Christ lived on earth. On any holy day, you can find a Turkish family preparing this delicacy, which has 33 layers.

History of baklava

It is often served at Christian holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, when it is made with 40 sheets of phyllo dough to represent the 40 days of Lent. In Greece, it is traditionally made with 33 layers to symbolize each year of the life of Christ.

In some Middle Eastern cultures, it is considered a symbol of hospitality and is often served to guests to welcome them into their homes. In Greece, baklava is associated with family and community, and it is usually prepared and shared with loved ones during holidays and other special occasions.

Baklava is a traditional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern pastry made from layers of phyllo dough, nuts, and honey or syrup. It is high in calories and fat due to the large amounts of butter and sugar used in the recipe.

Treats such as baklava, barfi or rasmali can be high in fat and sugar. Only a small amount can make quite an impact on pushing up your blood sugars.

And there are reasons to feel good about phyllo: Because the dough has no trans fat, no saturated fat, no cholesterol and just 160 calories per 5 sheets, it makes the perfect substitute for puff pastry, ready-made piecrusts and refrigerated pie dough.