Baklavas Layers of Nuts and Flake Pastry with Syrup
Ingredients
- 1.1 lbs. filo or fine sheet pastry
- 10.5 oz coarsely chopped walnuts
- 7 oz. fine breadcrumbs
- 9 oz. fresh butter (not margarine)
- 1/2 C. sugar
- 1 flat tsp. ground cinnamon
- cloves
- FOR THE SYRUP:
- 2 C. water
- 4 C. sugar
- Juice of 1 small lemon (or half an orange)
Directions
Mix the walnuts, breadcrumbs and cinnamon. Butter the pan and place 5 sheets of the pastry on the bottom, one by one, buttering each individually as you place it on the bottom. Cover the remaining pastry sheets with a damp towel for the time being so they will not dry out. With a large spoon, evenly place 1/2 the nut filling over all the pastry. Cover the filling with another 3 pastry sheets, again individually buttering each as you place it. Evenly spoon in the remaining 1/2 of the nut mixture and place another 5 pastry sheets on top, again evenly buttering each individually as you place it. Pat the top pastry sheets down very gently. Cut the Baklava into triangle servings. Place a clove on every third or so piece, puncturing the pastry with the stem of the clove. Bake in a well heated oven at 350F. for 1 hour approximately or until golden. Prepare the syrup: Boil the water, sugar and lemon juice over a gentle fire for about 10 minutes. Allow it to cool. Pour the syrup onto the Baklava. (Cold syrup - hot Baklava.) When the Baklava absorbs the syrup it is normal for the top layer of pastry to remain crispy. Under no circumstances must an oven fan be used while baking Baklava. It will burn the top and bottom pastry layers within minutes.


