Deluxe Baklava
Deluxe Baklava
Medium Syrup (recipe follows)
4 cups finely chopped walnuts (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
1 Tbs. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 cup sugar
40 filo pastry sheets (about 2 lbs.)
1-1/2 cups unsalted butter, clarified, or margarine, melted
Prepare Medium Syrup. Set aside to cool. Preheat oven to 350F (175C).
Lightly
butter a 13" x 9" baking pan. Set aside. In a medium bowl,
combine walnuts,
cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves and sugar. Set aside. Stack filo
pastry
sheets on a flat surface. Trim to fit pan. Cover with plastic wrap to
prevent
drying out. Layer 12 filo sheets in baking pan, brushing each sheet with
clarified butter or melted margarine. Spread 1 cup nut mixture over
layered
filo sheets. Top with 8 more filo sheets, brushing each with butter or
margarine. Spread with 1 cup nut mixture. Layer 8 more filo sheets,
brushing
each with butter or margarine. Spread with remaining nut mixture. Top with
12
remaining filo sheets, brushing each with butter or margarine. Brush top
sheet
with remaining butter or margarine. Cutting all the way through pastry,
cut
into 1-inch diamond shapes without removing from pan. Bake 30 minutes.
Reduce
heat to 200F (95C). Bake 30 minutes longer. Pour cooled syrup over warm
pastry.
Let stand several hours before serving. Makes about 110 pieces.
MEDIUM SYRUP
3 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups water
2 Tbs. lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in a large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil,
stirring
frequently. Reduce heat. Once mixture boils and sugar is dissolved, do not
stir
or syrup may cloud or crystallize. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat
until
a candy thermometer registers 212 to 218F (100 to 102C). At this
temperature,
syrup dropped from a cold metal spoon will fall in a sheet. Remove from
heat.
Cool. Use immediately or refrigerate in a plastic container with lid. May
be
refrigerated up to 1 month. Makes about 2 cups.
>From "Mideast & Mediterranean Cuisines" by Rose Dosti
http://web.archive.org/web/20020627102555/http://www.sudairy.com/mer/recipes.html
Source:
rec.food.cooking, rec.food.recipes