Baklava

By CathyRice

Greek pastry made with filo, honey, nuts and butter

Ingredients

• Filling:
• 4 sticks unsalted butter
• 1 package filo dough
• 3 cups finely chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 cup sugar
• Syrup:
• 1 cup honey (orange honey is best)
• 1 cup sugar
• juice of one lemon plus water to equal 1 cup
• 1 cinnamon stick

Preparation

Step 1

Combine finely chopped nuts with sugar and set aside.
Melt butter and skim off gook.
Lay filo dough in pan and drizzle clarified butter on each layer for 4 to 5 layers.
On 5th layer, DO NOT put butter but spread nut and sugar mixture.
Repeat for 3 layers of nuts, then finish with 4 to 5 layers of filo.
Cut into diamonds before baking.
Bake at 350 degrees for ~ 30 minutes until the desired color of brown.
While baking, make the syrup by combining all syrup ingredients and bringing to simmer. Cook until a drop on a plate does not run down all the way when the plate is tilted.
Remove cinnamon stick and pour over cooling pastry.
Cool completely before serving.