Baklava
- 15 sheets phyllo dough
- 14 cup butter, melted
- 12 cup walnuts (ground or well crushed)
- dry coconut powder, crushed pistachio (to decorate)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water
- 14 cup rose water
- 18 teaspoon cardamom (optional)
- 18 teaspoon saffron (optional)
- 1 -2 drop lemon juice (fresh) (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.
- Unroll phyllo dough and cover with a slightly dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work.
- Fold a phyllo sheet to fit the pan.
- Place it in the pan and butter thoroughly.
- Repeat until you have 4 folded sheets layered.
- Sprinkle 2 - 3 tbsp of walnuts (ground or well crushed) on top.
- Repeat this step 2 more times.
- Top the last layer of nuts with a folded phyllo sheet, butter thoroughly and repeat until you have no more phyllo sheets (you may or may not butter the last layer).
- Use a sharp knife and cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan.
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until baklava is golden-brown and crisp.
- While baklava is baking, make the syrup as follows: Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted.
- Dissolve the saffron in 2 tbsp of hot water and add it to the syrup (optional).
- Add cardamom to the syrup and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the syrup is slightly thicken.
- Add the rose water and simmer for one more minute.
- Remove from the heat and add 1-2 drops of fresh lemon juice.
- Let the syrup to be cooled.
- Remove baklava from oven and immediately pour the syrup over it.
- Decorate with crushed pistachio or any other nuts of your choice and/or coconut powder.
- Let cool.
- Do not cover it until it is fully cooled.
- NOTE : You can make the syrup beforehand, store it in the fridge for 1-2 months and use it whenever you want.
- However, make sure to use the lemon juice drops if you are going with this option.
- The baked baklava absorbs the syrup better if the syrup is cold.
phyllo, butter, walnuts, coconut powder, sugar, water, water, cardamom, saffron, lemon juice
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/baklava-429823 (may not work)