For a (AWESOME) school project, I had to make baklava. Baklava is a traditional Egyptian dessert consisting of many layers of flaky pastry and spiced walnuts, covered in a sweet, orange-blossom-flavored syrup, called a sharbat. The flavors meld together into one sweet treat.
Some of the ingredients include ghee, orange blossom water and phyllo dough — not your typical ingredients.
You can find phyllo dough in the frozen foods isle at Walmart. There are two rolls of pastry inside the box. Each sheet of phyllo dough is 9×13 inches. One roll of pastry will be for the bottom half of the baklava and the other roll for the top half.
Orange blossom water and ghee can be found at many Asian food stores. If you are lucky, your Walmart may even have these ingredients. If you can’t find ghee, you can replace it with butter. As for orange blossom water, you can omit that, but the flavor will not be the same.
Makes: 24 large baklava triangles
Ingredients:
2cupswalnuts,finelychopped
1cupsugar
2cupsghee,melted, or as needed
2tablespoonscinnamon
1tablespoonorangeblossomwater
1packageofphyllodough (one pound),thawed to room temperature
2cupssugar
1cupwater
2tablespoonslemonjuice
2tablespoonsorangeblossomwater
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350˚F. Prepare a baking pan by lining with foil. Scatter the walnuts evenly on the pan and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, stirring halfway.
After the nuts are roasted, turn the oven to 400˚F. Roasting the nuts gives them a golden brown color and intensifies the flavors.
In a medium-sized bowl, mix the roasted walnuts, 1 cup sugar, 1/4 cup of melted ghee, cinnamon and 1 tablespoon orange blossom water. Set aside.
Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. Place two sheets of phyllo dough in the pan. Brush with melted ghee.
Repeat until half of the sheets in the box are used (one roll of pastry if using the same brand we did).
Then spread the walnut mixture that was prepared earlier on top.
Continue adding two sheets of phyllo dough and then brushing with melted ghee until all sheets are used up.
Cut baklava into rectangles, and then cut rectangles in half diagonally to form triangles.
Bake at 400˚F for 5 minutes. Then turn the heat down to 300˚F and bake for an additional 50 minutes or until golden brown.
While the baklava is baking, prepare the sugar syrup or sharbat.
In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water. Heat over medium heat for 10 minutes or until it starts to boil. Take it off the heat and add the 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Return to the heat and cook until the sharbat boils again. Remove the sharbat from the heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons orange blossom water. Set aside to cool.
When the baklava is done baking, spoon the sharbat over it, making sure to get in between the cuts. Let the baklava cool. Then, using a sharp knife, go over the cuts. Then, remove the baklava from the pan, piece-by-piece. Enjoy!
FAQs
It is special thin, rectangular sheets of dough called goulash in Egypt, and filo in some Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Sicily. It is usually stuffed with walnuts or pistachios and sweetened with honey.
Do they eat baklava in Egypt? ›
Baklava is a traditional Egyptian dessert consisting of many layers of flaky pastry and spiced walnuts, covered in a sweet, orange-blossom-flavored syrup, called a sharbat.
What is Arabic baklava made of? ›
All baklava has as its foundation two ingredients: nuts, phyllo dough, butter or oil ghee, and simple syrup. From there, the number of styles, shapes, and sizes are tremendous.
What race is baklava from? ›
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.
What is Egypt's famous dessert? ›
1. Omm Ali. Omm Ali is a staple of Egyptian desserts.
What is the national dessert of Egypt? ›
Om Ali, Omali, Umm Ali, or Oumm Ali (Egyptian Arabic: أم على), meaning "Mother of Ali", is a traditional Egyptian dessert, and is a national dessert of Egypt.
What food is most eaten in Egypt? ›
Egyptian cuisine relies heavily on vegetables and legumes, but can also feature meats, most commonly squab, chicken, and lamb. Lamb and beef are frequently used for grilling. Offal is a popular fast food in cities, and foie gras is a delicacy that has been prepared in the region since at least 2500 BCE.
Can Muslims eat baklava? ›
Generally speaking, baklava is considered halal, as its primary ingredients—phyllo dough, nuts, sugar, butter, and syrup or honey—are permissible under Islamic dietary laws. The core components of baklava align with halal principles, making it a sweet treat that can be enjoyed by those following a halal diet.
What did Egyptians eat for dessert? ›
The festival dessert menu generally consisted of raisin bread, sweet bread, fried pastries, honey cakes, and sweetmeats. Ancient Egyptians did not use sugar; desserts were sweetened with dates and honey.
What's the difference between baklava and Turkish baklava? ›
While not always true, Turkish baklava ordinarily uses a light neutral oil, while Greek baklava is typically made with melted butter. Also, the Greek version is usually a walnut baklava, although almonds are sometimes used, while the Turkish version is usually a pistachio baklava.
Baklava has a really lengthy shelf life, lasting about 2+ weeks. It should be stored in an airtight container, either in room temperature or in the fridge. Storing in room temperature will preserve the crispness. If you like your baklava chewy and a bit harder, store it in the refrigerator.
What is baklava in Dubai? ›
Dubai is renowned for its culinary delights, and one treat that stands out is the irresistible baklava. This traditional Middle Eastern pastry is a heavenly combination of flaky layers, sweet honey and a delightful nutty filling.
Is baklava Egyptian? ›
Each country has its own version again of this one. Some stuff the buttery layers of Fillo dough with pistachios, others with walnuts, others with cream or even plain. Baklava could be covered with honey, sugar syrup or sugar syrup with some rose water flavors.
Why is baklava so expensive? ›
Baklava is made out of sugar (şerbet), yufka (sort of a flat layered dough) and antep fıstığı (pistachio). These three ingridients are very expensive in Turkey due to the shortages of production and current currency crisis.
Is baklava healthy? ›
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.
What is Turkish Delight called in Egypt? ›
In Libya, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Tunisia it is known as ḥalqūm, while in Kuwait it is called كبده الفرس kabdat alfaras; in Egypt it is called malban (ملبن [ˈmælbæn]) or ʕagameyya, and in Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria rāḥa (راحة).
What is the traditional Egyptian candy? ›
Semsemeya is a traditional Egyptian toasted sesame brittle that shatters in your mouth after the first bite, releasing a bold nutty flavor, unapologetic sweetness and subtle floral note. Semsemeya floods Egyptian food markets during the celebration of The Prophet Mohamed Birthday in Egypt.
What is baklava in Islam? ›
For many, the question of whether baklava is halal is crucial, given the dietary laws observed by Muslims around the world. Generally speaking, baklava is considered halal, as its primary ingredients—phyllo dough, nuts, sugar, butter, and syrup or honey—are permissible under Islamic dietary laws.
Do Egyptians eat kunafa? ›
Each year, Egyptians food market has been modifying the kunafa, a traditional dessert that is popular across the region. One of the more popular trends was the nutella kunafa.
