Mmmm... Baklava! but Where, What, and How?

By E H, published Mar 12, 2007
Published Content: 18  Total Views: 13,957  Favorited By: 1 CPs
Rating: 4.5 of 5
WHERE (did it originate):
Just say it, "Baklava!" Has your mouth started watering yet? It is almost unimaginable to come across anyone who will not drool at the thought of this tasty pastry. People all around the world have enjoyed the scrumptious taste of baklava for centuries. It is known to have originated in the Middle-East. Many believe that the Assyrians were the ones behind this genial product. From there, interactions with the Greek carried Baklava samples and recipes from Mesopotamia to Athens, then to the Roman Empire and the rest of Europe. Of course, while traveling across borders, the recipe began to take different forms in different regions. It wasn't until the Ottomans conquered Constantinople that the different regional touches on baklava were all united to make the delightful dessert we know today.

Luckily, you do not have to travel from town to town, asking for different baklava recipes to come up with your final result. Nor do you have to pay the big bucks anywhere to have some of this incredible stuff! Check out the recipe below, and enjoy! But let me warn you that this is not for the faint of heart; you will need some pretty strong taste buds to savor every single bite of this recipe. Also, this is not your typical "low calorie, low fat" dessert, but seriously, how many good desserts are! Give yourself a break, indulge.

WHAT (is it made of) & HOW (do you make it!):
Ingredients
_ Phyllo dough ( a box of two rolls)
_1 stick of butter
_1/4 cup oil
_3 cups crushed walnuts (unsalted)
_2 Tbsp coconut (shredded) optional

Syrup
_ 2 cups sugar
_1 1/2 cups water
_3 Tbsp lemon juice (from a squeezed lemon)
_1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Mmmm... Baklava! but Where, What, and How?
Mmmm... Baklava!  but Where, What, and How?

Baklava cut in diamond shapes

Credit: Holli Kearns

Copyright: Holli Kearns

Takeaways
  • Baklava is originally a Middle-Eastern treat that became known to the Westerners through the Greek.
Did You Know?
The Hungarians developed the idea of strudle from baklava, brought about by the Turkish invasion in the 16th Century.
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