The eastern Mediterranean region is known for its delicious food. Whether it's Greek dolmades, Turkish kebabs, Lebanese tabbouleh or Israeli hummus and falafel, it's as if a bite into one of the regional specialties is a bite into pure sunshine. Often there are dishes that are found throughout the area but with slight variations depending on where you are. One of these is a heavenly dessert best known as baklava.
The most famous sweet Mediterranean treat is a delectably sweet and syrupy dish. It's basically a concoction of buttery pastry layered with chopped nuts. This is cut into shapes and baked before it's drenched in syrup.
Most people think of the dessert as a Greek dish. While there are different theories about its origins, however, it seems to have been perfected in the kitchens of the Topkapi Palace during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. Today it's enjoyed in Turkey and many of the countries that used to be part of the empire, including the Balkan states. It's even enjoyed in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Afghanistan and Iran.
The pastry used as base for the dessert is filo pastry. Melted butter is painted in between layers of pastry. Some people use oil as a more economical alternative. There are other regional variations too, such as the egg yolks that are added to the dough if you're in Albania. The Greeks famously prefer to have 33 layers of pastry. This number represents the number of years that Christ lived on earth.
The next ingredient you'll need is chopped nuts. These can be walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts or even almonds. Mix them with a bit of sugar and, if you want, some spices like cloves or cinnamon. Sprinkle them in between the layers of pastry. Some people only use one layer of nuts with pastry beneath and on top while others use alternating layers.
Once you've assembled the dough and the nuts in your baking dish, use a sharp knife to cut out smaller shapes. You can stick with simple rectangles or squares or you can opt for triangles or lozenges instead. The shapes chosen often depend on the region where the dish is made. Bake the pastry and once it's ready, pour the syrup over. The syrup can have honey, orange flower water, rose water or even vanilla added to it for a bit of extra flavor.
The dish is quite rich and therefore it's usually served as a special treat. Christians often enjoy it at Easter or for Christmas while Muslims serve it during Ramadan or at Eid. It's a very popular dessert at weddings too. It's most commonly served at room temperature and you can enjoy it as is or with some cream or ice cream on the side.
Recipes are easy to find online or in recipe books, especially those that focus on the cuisines of Central Asia or the Mediterranean. If it sounds too time consuming to make from scratch, buy your slice of sunshine from a restaurant or a deli. Most Greek or Turkish restaurants will have it on their menu but you might also find it at some Middle Eastern businesses. Then simply close your eyes and let the syrup sweeten your soul.
The most famous sweet Mediterranean treat is a delectably sweet and syrupy dish. It's basically a concoction of buttery pastry layered with chopped nuts. This is cut into shapes and baked before it's drenched in syrup.
Most people think of the dessert as a Greek dish. While there are different theories about its origins, however, it seems to have been perfected in the kitchens of the Topkapi Palace during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. Today it's enjoyed in Turkey and many of the countries that used to be part of the empire, including the Balkan states. It's even enjoyed in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Afghanistan and Iran.
The pastry used as base for the dessert is filo pastry. Melted butter is painted in between layers of pastry. Some people use oil as a more economical alternative. There are other regional variations too, such as the egg yolks that are added to the dough if you're in Albania. The Greeks famously prefer to have 33 layers of pastry. This number represents the number of years that Christ lived on earth.
The next ingredient you'll need is chopped nuts. These can be walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts or even almonds. Mix them with a bit of sugar and, if you want, some spices like cloves or cinnamon. Sprinkle them in between the layers of pastry. Some people only use one layer of nuts with pastry beneath and on top while others use alternating layers.
Once you've assembled the dough and the nuts in your baking dish, use a sharp knife to cut out smaller shapes. You can stick with simple rectangles or squares or you can opt for triangles or lozenges instead. The shapes chosen often depend on the region where the dish is made. Bake the pastry and once it's ready, pour the syrup over. The syrup can have honey, orange flower water, rose water or even vanilla added to it for a bit of extra flavor.
The dish is quite rich and therefore it's usually served as a special treat. Christians often enjoy it at Easter or for Christmas while Muslims serve it during Ramadan or at Eid. It's a very popular dessert at weddings too. It's most commonly served at room temperature and you can enjoy it as is or with some cream or ice cream on the side.
Recipes are easy to find online or in recipe books, especially those that focus on the cuisines of Central Asia or the Mediterranean. If it sounds too time consuming to make from scratch, buy your slice of sunshine from a restaurant or a deli. Most Greek or Turkish restaurants will have it on their menu but you might also find it at some Middle Eastern businesses. Then simply close your eyes and let the syrup sweeten your soul.
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