Mixed-Nut Honey Baklava
- Baklava
- 12 dried calamyra figs, diced 1/4-inch
- 1/2 cup dark rum
- 1 1/2 cups toasted walnut pieces, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups toasted unblanched almonds, chopped
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks)
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, diced 1/4-inch
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- Two (1 pound) boxes phyllo dough (about 48 sheets)
- Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup honey (preferably orange blossom), plus more for drizzling
- 1/2 cup water
- Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
- Soak the diced figs in the rum in a large bowl for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spread the walnuts and almonds out on a baking sheet and toast until darkened and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cool.
- Toss the nuts, chocolate, sugar, and spices with the figs and the rum.
- Bring the butter to a simmer over low heat.
- Skim and discard the foamy solids that rise to the top until the butter is clear, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Lightly butter a 16 1/2 by 11 1/2-inch sheet pan.
- Remove the phyllo from the package, unroll and lay it on the counter next to the pan and cover with a kitchen towel.
- Lay 1 sheet of the phyllo on the pan and brush lightly with butter.
- Repeat with 11 more sheets of phyllo working quickly and keeping the phyllo covered, as you assemble the baklava.
- Scatter 1/3 of the nut mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) evenly over the layers of phyllo.
- Repeat 2 more times and top with the remaining 12 sheets of dough.
- Carefully, cut 3/4 of the way through the phyllo and nut filling to make about 96 (1 1/2-inch) squares.
- Bake the baklava until light brown and cooked through, about 1 hour.
- Raise the temperature to 450 degrees F and bake until golden crisp, about 5 to 8 more minutes.
- While the baklava crisps make the syrup: Heat the sugar, honey, and water in a saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the lemon juice and carefully pour the hot syrup over the just baked baklava, making sure to get into all the cuts.
- Let cool.
- Complete the pre-made cuts in the baklava and serve with some honey drizzled on top.
- Store the baklava in a sealed container for up to 1 week.
calamyra figs, dark rum, toasted walnut, unblanched almonds, unsalted butter, bittersweet chocolate, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, ground cloves, phyllo dough, syrup, sugar, honey, water, lemon
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/mixed-nut-honey-baklava-recipe2.html (may not work)