By Heta Joshi
February 26, 2024
Baklava is a succulent Middle Eastern delicacy that is composed of layers of phyllo or thin pastry, stuffed with honeyed dried fruits, such as pistachios and hazelnuts. To celebrate World Pistachio Day, here is a simple homemade recipe for pistachio baklava to try:
1 package of phyllo dough 450 g chopped pistachios 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 cup ghee 1 cup of water 1 cup of white sugar ½ cup honey 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 175°C and carefully butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Mix the pistachios and the cinnamon.
Unroll the phyllo and slice the whole portion in half to ensure it fits the baking dish. Shield the phyllo with a wet cloth while assembling the baklava to prevent it from drying out.
Arrange two phyllo sheets at the bottom of the dish and brush them liberally with ghee. Garnish the dish with 2–3 tbsp of the pistachio mixture, and continue layering the dish till all the ingredients have been exhausted.
Slice the baklava into intricate diamond shapes with a sharp knife. Bake the bite-sized delights for about 50 minutes till they assume a rich golden brown colour.
Boil sugar and water in a pan with honey, vanilla, and lemon zest. Let this syrup mixture simmer for about 20 minutes.
Take the baklava out of the oven and generously drizzle the sweet syrup over it. Allow the dessert to cool properly before serving.