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Baklava (Liacouras)

Category: Deserts

Author: The Savvybearcat

Date: 1/1/2007

Rating:

(3.0) by 1 users

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
2 1/2 cup Water
2 tbsp Honey
1 Lemon rind
1 Stick cinnamon
4 Whole cloves
1 1/4 lb Walnuts & blanched almonds Chopped medium fine
2 tsp Ground cinnamon
1 tsp Ground cloves
1 1/2 lb Commercial filo sheets
1 lb Sweet butter, melted

Instructions:

Combine 3 cups sugar, the water, honey, whole lemon rind, and whole
spices in a saucepan and bring to boil. Lower the heat and simmer for
15 minutes, then remove the lemon peel and spices and cool.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the nuts, remaining 1/2 cup
sugar, and ground spices and set aside. Lay filo sheets flat, cover
with waxed paper and then a damp towel. Keep covered except when
removing to assemble the baklava. Count 8 filo sheets, fold, cover
and refrigerate to reserve for the top. Using a large pastry brush,
butter an 11 1/2-inch by 15 1/2-inch by 3-inch baking pan. Lay a
filo sheet on the bottom of the pan, brush with warm butter, and
repeat using 8 sheets. Scoop up a handful of the nut-spice mixture
and sprinkle over the top filo sheet inside the pan. Lay on 3 or more
filo sheets, brushing each with butter, and sprinkle again with the
nut mixture. Continue until all the nuts and filo are used. (The
important things here are to butter each filo and spread the nuts
evenly. The way to do the latter is to rotate the pan several times
during the procedure.) Now you can remove the reserved sheets from
the refrigerator and spread over the top, brushing on each sheet.

Using a long, very sharp knife, score the baklava from top to bottom
into diamond shapes planning in advance the size desired. Be sure the
knife touches the bottom of the pan as you cut. Heat the remaining
butter to sizzling and pour over the top. Bake in a 300 degree oven
for 1 1/4 hours or until golden chestnut in color and flaky. Remove
from the oven (in the pan) to a rack, and spoon the cooled syrup over
the entire pastry. Cool in the pan, then serve each piece
individually.

Source: "The Food of Greece" by Vilma Liacouras Chantiles Avenel
Books, New York.

Cutting Diagram: ___________________________________
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Typed for you by Karen Mintzias