Baklava

It's hard to create something when you haven't tasted it before.


I.. haven't tried baklava before. I know what it is. I know what it looks like, and what it's made of .. but I just haven't eaten it before. Well, I decided to make it anyway. Because it has cinnamon in it and I love the smell of cinnamon. The only downfall about baklava though, is the butter. I tried to use the least butter possible here though! :P

Baklava
Makes about 30 servings

375g filo pastry
90g butter, melted
250g walnuts, crumbed
2 1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder

200ml water
125g sugar
2 tbsp honey

In a bowl, mix cinnamon with crumbed walnuts. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 170C.

Lay a baking pan with baking paper.
Brush a half a sheet of filo pastry with butter. Fold unbrushed half over brushed half.
Brush top of halved filo with butter. Align another half sheet of filo pastry over the top and repeat. Do this for 4 sheets (you will have 8 folded layers).
Spoon cinnamon walnut mixture onto the buttered filo pastry.
Apply another 4 sheets (8 folded layers as per previous instructions) on top to create another layer and sprinkle more mixture on top. Keep doing this until you have 4 layers of walnut mixture.


Brush the very top of the pastry with butter, then cut into diamonds.


Bake for 15-20min or until golden brown.

While the baklava is baking, make the syrup. Boil water, sugar and honey on medium heat for a few minutes before turning down to low and allowing all sugar to dissolve. Keep it on low heat until your baklava is ready.

Remove baklava from pan and carefully pour the syrup over the top.
Put the baklava back into the oven for another 5mins or so.
Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.


Serve with a hot cup of tea.