Pistachio Baklava
Ingredients:
16 oz ground pistachio
2 ½ sticks of butter (or sub for 1 1/4 cup olive oil w/ a pinch of salt)
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 ½ cups sugar
1 cup of water
1 box of filo dough (olga is a good brand)
Instructions:
BUTTER GLAZE: Place 2 ½ sticks OF BUTTER in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 2 min or until melted. (or sub for 1 1/4 cup olive oil w/ a pinch of salt)
FILLING MIX: Place 16 OZ. GROUND Pistachios in a mixing bowl then add 1 ¼ cup sugar, 1 tea spoon cardamom and 1 tea spoon cinnamon. Mix well.
SYRUP: Place 2 ¼ cups sugar in a med sauce pan add 1 cup water to sugar mix well with a spoon. Bring sugar mixture to a hard boil one liquid becomes clear and you can't see the sugar granules add 2 tea spoons lemon and turn off and remove from heat source.
Baklava: (Step 1) Coat a cookie sheet with the melted butter using a pastry brush. Place one sheet of filo dough at a time on the pan and lightly coat each one with the melted butter the first step should have Approximately 10 sheets of filo.
(Step 2) Add the nut mixture and spread evenly over the layers of dough.
(Step 3) Finally add the remaining filo dough layer by layer buttering each layer. Remember to make sure dough covers the whole pan pull the sheets over the edge slightly on either side of the pan. When you get to the last sheet of filo place on top un buttered. Trim the excess dough that is hanging over the edge with a sharp knife.
(Step 4) With a sharp knife cut the baklava into 36 triangles. First cut the baklava into 3 sections long ways. Then turn the pan sideways and make 6 sections which should leave you with 18 squares. Proceed to cut the squares in half on a diagonal to then make 36 pieces.
(Step 5) pour the remaining butter over the top of the baklava and spread evenly. Make sure you push the butter to the edge of the pan to make sure it doesn't burn while baking.
(Step 6) place baklava into a preheated oven at 400 degrees for aprox 20 min. Rotate half way through cook time. It should be golden brown and puffed up when done. Adjust time as need for your oven. Once baklava is done remove from oven and pour the syrup over the top evenly. Let stand for 1 hour and then serve. Garnish with pistachios cinnamon, serve with Greek yogurt dollop, fruit sauce drizzle or fruit of your choice.
George Shankool
Saba's Mediterranean Kitchen
Saba's Mediterranean Kitchen
4747 E. Bell Rd Phoenix AZ 85032
602-493-4831
www.sabaskitchen.com
