BAKLAVA – ZÉKLAVA

STUFFED PUFF PASTRY

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 POUND OF FRESH OR THAWED PUFF PASTRY

50 GRAMS OF MELTED BUTTER (PLUS A LITTLE MORE FOR GREASING IT)

FILLING:

200 GRAMS OF CRUSHED PISTACHIOS OR WALNUTS

3 TBSP SUGAR

1 TEASPOON GROUND CINNAMON

SYRUP:

1 CUP SUGAR

1/2 CUP OF WATER

JUICE OF 1/2 LEMON

1 TBSP OF ROSE WATER OR ORANGE BLOSSOM (AZAHAR)

MODO DE PREPARO:

> ADD THE SYRUP INGREDIENTS AND BAKE UNTIL SLIGHTLY THICK. BOOK.

> PREPARE THE FILLING: MIX THE PISTACHIOS (OR WALNUTS), SUGAR AND CINNAMON IN A BLENDER. BOOK.

> ROLL OUT THE PUFF PASTRY ON A SMOOTH FLOURED SURFACE AND CUT IT INTO TWO EQUAL PARTS ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF THE PAN. ARRANGE ONE OF THEM IN THE BUTTERED PAN, SPREAD THE FILLING AND COVER WITH THE OTHER PART OF THE DOUGH. PRESS THE EDGES TOGETHER AND SMEAR WITH MELTED BUTTER. WITH THE KNIFE, DRAW LINES IN THE DOUGH, FORMING SQUARES OR RHOMBUSES, TO MAKE IT EASIER TO CUT. BAKE IN A PREHEATED MEDIUM OVEN UNTIL GOLDEN BROWN.

> REMOVE THE BAKLAVA FROM THE OVEN AND BRUSH WITH THE SYRUP. WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN BEFORE CUTTING IT.

YIELD:

SERVES 8

NUTRITIONAL VALUE (PER SERVING):

CALORIES – 671

PROTEINS – 9.7 G

CARBOHYDRATES – 81.5 G

FAT – 34.1 G

THIS SWEET IS CONSUMED IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES BESIDES THE ARABS (RUSSIA, BULGARIA, GREECE AND TURKEY). AND NOW IN BRAZIL.

SOURCE: FLAVORS OF THE WORLD COLLECTION AND OTHERS.

P.S. – MY FRIEND NADIME MAHMOOD SAYS IT’S THE BEST SWEET IN THE WORLD, LOOK HOW MUCH FOOD AND DESSERT HE KNOWS THE WHOLE WORLD!

P.S. – 2 – I PREFER PISTACHIOS TO WALNUTS IN THIS CANDY, ALTHOUGH I LOVE WALNUTS INSIDE THE DRIED FIG AT CHRISTMAS.

P.S. 3 – I MAKE IT USING ROSE WATER FOR COOKING.

P.S. 4 – I PREFER THE FILO PUFF PASTRY (THINNER AND MORE DELICATE)

By Jucele

Julio Leal

February 27, 2024