Spring

Almond Baklava

March  7, 2012
5
4 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Makes about 3 dozen pieces
Author Notes

This is a recipe for the traditional Iranian baklava (baghlava) which I have reinvented and perfected over the last 30+ years. I simply went by taste and texture and kept trying out new approaches until I was happy with the results. I only make this once a year for the vernal equinox which rings in the Iranian new year. It took me about 10 years to come up with a recipe which I could be proud of.
cookingProf

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: cookingProf is an Iranian-born computer science professor in Oklahoma who finds cooking just as rewarding as teaching. (She also happens to be our assistant editor Nozlee's mother!)
WHAT: Baklava like you've never seen it before: the puff pastry, walnuts, and honey you're used to are swapped out for a flaky pie crust, almonds, and rose water.
HOW: The tightly packed filling of almonds and cardamom is frozen before baking so it slices cleanly into diamonds, and syrup is poured over the warm baklava after baking for maximum absorption.
WHY WE LOVE IT: The delicate flavors of rose water and cardamom make this treat welcome at dessert or with a simple cup of tea, and the finished diamonds are sturdy enough to pack for gifts or a picnic. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Crust, glaze, and syrup topping
  • 1-1/8 cups All purpose flour
  • 1 stick Unsalted butter
  • 1/8 cup Very cold water
  • 1 tablespoon Crushed raw pistachios (for garnish)
  • 1/2 cup Sugar (for syrup topping)
  • 3/8 cup water (for syrup topping)
  • 1 tablespoon Rose water (for syrup topping)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Flour (for top glaze)
  • 2 tablespoons Water (for top glaze)
  • Baklava Filling
  • 3 cups Almond meal/almond flour
  • 1 cup Powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Ground cardamom
  • 2 tablespoons Water
  • 1/2 tablespoon Rose water
Directions
  1. Filling:
  2. Mix 2 tbsp water and 1/2 tbs rosewater and set aside.
  3. Mix the almond meal, cardamom and powdered sugar and transfer to a food processor bowl. Blend until uniformly mixed. Drizzle the water/rosewater mix while the food processor is running to give the filling some moisture. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. CAUTION: Do not over run the food processor as the mixture will become gooey and turn into marzipan. Note: If you cannot find almond meal in the bulk section of your local Whole Foods or a health food store, you can make your own by processing 12 ounces of slivered almonds in a food processor.
  4. Crust:
  5. put 1-1/8 cup of flour in the food processor bowl. Cut the butter into 8 pieces and add to the bowl. Pulse the food processor until the butter forms small pea-sized pieces. Run the food processor and drizzle 1/8 cup of cold water until the dough just starts to form small ball-sized pieces.
  6. Wrap the dough in plastic and form a rectangular block. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. The dough can be made 1-2 days ahead of time and refrigerated.
  7. You need a 9X9 inch pan. Cut half of the dough with a knife and place between two pieces of plastic wrap. Roll out the crust. Trim the sides to a 9X9 inch square and lay at the bottom of the pan. It is Ok if the crust is a little bigger than the pan.
  8. Transfer the baklava filling to the baking pan. Spread and press the filling into an even and smooth surface. Repeat making a 9X9 inch crust for the top as in the above step. Lay the crust on top of the filling and push the edges down. Remove any excess edges with a knife.
  9. Put the baking pan in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. This step stops the top crust from crawling when being cut into diamond shapes.
  10. Use a ruler to score the crust into 8 equal-sized parallel section. Repeat the process diagonally until you end up with a diamond-shaped pattern on top of the crust. Set the ruler aside. Using a thin-blade knife (such as a pairing knife) cut along the straight and diagonal lines throughout. (Note: If you have a nice pan and would like to avoid cut marks on it, you might wish to line it with parchment paper).
  11. Top Glaze:
  12. In a small glass bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of water and 1/2 teaspoon of flour. Microwave for 20 second. Stir. Microwave for another 20 seconds. Glaze the top crust with this mixture. This will give the baklava an even and golden finish.
  13. Put the baking dish in a 350-degree preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the half-baked baklava and cut through any fused pieces on the top crust with a knife. Return to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake for another 10 minutes or until the crust turns golden.
  14. Topping Syrup:
  15. While the baklava is baking (this could actually be done days ahead), put 1/2 cup of sugar and 3/8 cup of water in a small pot and bring to a low boil over medium-low heat until the sugar is melted. Add 1 tablespoon of rose water and bring the syrup to full boil. Remove from heat.
  16. Pour the warm syrup over warm baklava. Sprinkle with finely chopped pistachios. Let the baklava sit for 30-60 minutes or until the syrup is absorbed.
  17. The baklava improves with 1-2 days of aging. It keeps for weeks in room-temperature in a sealed container. Cut the diamonds out and store. Use waxed paper or plastic wrap to stack layers for storage.
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cookingProf

Recipe by: cookingProf

I was gifted with the love for cooking as a very young girl growing up in Tehran. I would follow my grandmother to the fresh produce market every day in summer days and help carry her basket home. I would then stand around at her foot in the kitchen and she would reward me with delicious morsels of the food she was cooking. My two prominent occupations/preoccupations are cooking and teaching computer science/writing computer programs. I find both equally rewarding.

14 Reviews

Sahar October 5, 2015
I made this recipe and it is absolutely divine! It reminds me of the ones my mom would buy from the best persian bakeries when I was a little girl. Thank you so much CookingProf, you truley created a masterpiece.
 
Allen M. February 27, 2013
Thanks for sharing traditional Iranian baklava recipe.
 
ellebarr March 18, 2012
i always make mine with phyllo...... really pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I have found that proper thawing is imperative. Put the frozen dough into the fridge at least 24 hours in advance and then at room temperature for up to two hours. And of course do not unwrap until you are ready to use. If you work quickly you do not need to cover with a moist towel while constructing. And brush every layer with butter. And I usually put rosewater in syrup for the top. I will have to try this though.
 
Devangi R. March 16, 2012
When I saw the pic, i was sure this is a keeper...I am so intimated by phyllo but this is a great way to make it...although I have phyllo sheets lying in my freezer...I have to give this a try on Persian new year which is on 21st March....thanks for the recipe
 
HCR March 16, 2012
I must make this for my mom.
 
arielleclementine March 16, 2012
what a beautiful recipe! congratulations!
 
Brain H. March 15, 2012
It has been about 10 years since I've experimented with baklava (my old favorite used pistachios and mini chocolate chips!). I am totally intrigued and can't wait to try this. And I'm already trying to figure out what else I could do with the almond meal filling. WOW! I am inspired. Thank you.
 
Bevi March 15, 2012
Congrats and these are lovely. I have a question though, isn't baklava traditionally made with phyllo dough (per A&M's review)? Or is a puff pastry common as well?
 
cookingProf March 15, 2012
As best I know, the Arabic and the Greek baklava, as you correctly stated, are made with phyllo sheets. The traditional Iranian version is made by making and rolling out your own dough. The filling is most often almonds. You can also use raw pistachios as a variation.
 
Bevi March 16, 2012
Yes, I ate the Iranian version many times while living in the Middle East, and I love it. I have never had a version with puff pastry, though. Your recipe is great and I am making this for my husband, who loves baklava.
 
easknh March 18, 2012
Although most people think of Greek baklava as the kind made with phyllo, there is also another version which is made with semolina. It is probably very close to this recipe in taste but slightly different in texture.
 
duclosbe1 March 15, 2012
Congratulations on the wildcard! This is a stunning combination of flavors.
 
AntoniaJames March 8, 2012
Such an evocative photo! Simply brilliant. Love the recipe, too!! Thank you for posting it. ;o)
 
cookingProf March 11, 2012
Thanks Antonia. I had a lot of fun making them recently just so I would have pictures to post along with my recipe.