I made this baklava for a Persian themed dinner party. It was a little time consuming but absolutely worth it. I probably got it off of the internet but I cannot remember where, so my apologies for not citing my source. (I email recipes to myself when they turn out well). It tastes even better over the following couple of days:
PERSIAN BAKLAVA
Syrup:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 cardamom pods
1/4 cup rose water
1+ pound (about 24 sheets) phyllo dough (buy 2 packages to be safe)
About 1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter
1. To make the syrup: Stir the sugar, honey, water, lemon juice, and
cardamom pods over low heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Stop
stirring, increase the heat to medium, and cook until the mixture is
slightly syrupy, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Add 1/4 cup rose water it has cooled.
2. To make the filling: Combine all the filling ingredients.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 12-by-9-inch or 13-by-9-inch
baking pan or 15-by-10-inch jelly roll pan.
4. ALWAYS KEEP UNUSED PHYLLO COVERED WITH A CLEAN DAMP TOWEL WHILE WORKING WITH IT to keep it from drying out and sticking together. Place a sheet of phyllo in the prepared pan and lightly brush with
butter. Repeat with 7 more sheets. Spread with half of the filling. Top with
8 more sheets, brushing each with butter. Use any torn sheets in the middle
layer. Spread with the remaining nut mixture and end with a top layer of 8
sheets, continuing to brush each with butter. Trim any overhanging edges.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut 6 equal lengthwise strips (about 1 3/4 inches
wide) through the top layer of pastry. Make 1 1/2-inch-wide diagonal cuts
across the strips to form diamond shapes.
6. Just before baking, lightly sprinkle the top of the pastry with cold
water. This inhibits the pastry from curling. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce
the heat to 300 degrees and bake until golden brown, about 15 additional
minutes.
7. Cut through the scored lines. Drizzle the cooled syrup slowly over the
hot baklava and let cool for at least 4 hours. Cover and store at room
temperature for up to 1 week. If the baklava dries out while being stored,
drizzle with a little additional hot syrup.
Not a specific recipe, but rosewater is a fairly common ingredient in both Middle Eastern and Indian cooking (and drinks, like in a lassi.) So, you might want to search recipes from those regions. On related note, I was once served Rose Petal Ice Cream at a wedding, which must have had rosewater in it. Was a big hit, but have to admit I didn't love it (personally not a fan of strongly floral flavors) - but it was quite beautiful to look at - lovely pale pink and served garnished with candied rose petals.
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PERSIAN BAKLAVA
Syrup:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 cardamom pods
1/4 cup rose water
Filling:
1 pound pistachios, coarsely ground (about 4 cups)
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1+ pound (about 24 sheets) phyllo dough (buy 2 packages to be safe)
About 1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter
1. To make the syrup: Stir the sugar, honey, water, lemon juice, and
cardamom pods over low heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Stop
stirring, increase the heat to medium, and cook until the mixture is
slightly syrupy, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Add 1/4 cup rose water it has cooled.
2. To make the filling: Combine all the filling ingredients.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 12-by-9-inch or 13-by-9-inch
baking pan or 15-by-10-inch jelly roll pan.
4. ALWAYS KEEP UNUSED PHYLLO COVERED WITH A CLEAN DAMP TOWEL WHILE WORKING WITH IT to keep it from drying out and sticking together. Place a sheet of phyllo in the prepared pan and lightly brush with
butter. Repeat with 7 more sheets. Spread with half of the filling. Top with
8 more sheets, brushing each with butter. Use any torn sheets in the middle
layer. Spread with the remaining nut mixture and end with a top layer of 8
sheets, continuing to brush each with butter. Trim any overhanging edges.
5. Using a sharp knife, cut 6 equal lengthwise strips (about 1 3/4 inches
wide) through the top layer of pastry. Make 1 1/2-inch-wide diagonal cuts
across the strips to form diamond shapes.
6. Just before baking, lightly sprinkle the top of the pastry with cold
water. This inhibits the pastry from curling. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce
the heat to 300 degrees and bake until golden brown, about 15 additional
minutes.
7. Cut through the scored lines. Drizzle the cooled syrup slowly over the
hot baklava and let cool for at least 4 hours. Cover and store at room
temperature for up to 1 week. If the baklava dries out while being stored,
drizzle with a little additional hot syrup.