Cuisine

ROSE, SAFFRON & ORANGEBLOSSOM BAKLAVA

MAKES 18–20 PIECES

Baklava is a traditional treat with many variations, found in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions. I love the simple use of nuts, crunchy filo and the sweetness of the fragrant syrup holding it all together. It looks so pretty, too, when served sprinkled with dried rose petals. You can just use one variety of nut or a combination.

250g pistachios

200g mixed nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts)

¼ cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cardamom

12 sheets filo pastry

125g butter, melted

SYRUP

½ cup honey

½ cup sugar

2 teaspoons rose water 2 teaspoons orange blossom water pinch of saffron dried rose petals, to garnish

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 23cm square cake tin.

Place the nuts in a food processor and blitz until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl, add the sugar and the spices and stir to combine.

Place a sheet of filo pastry on a clean work surface and brush with melted butter. Cover with two more layers of filo, brushed with butter, then place into the tin and fold the edges to fit. Sprinkle a layer of spiced nuts over top. Prepare three more layers of buttered filo and place them on top of the first layer of pastry and nuts. Repeat the process with the remaining filo pastry and nut mixture, ending with a layer of filo.

Using a sharp knife, score the filo into diamond shapes all the way through to the base of the tin. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until golden.

Meanwhile, make the syrup. In a saucepan, combine the honey, ½ cup of water and the sugar over a medium to high heat until the sugar dissolves. Cook until the syrup thickens, then remove from the heat. Add the rose water, orange blossom water and saffron. Stir to combine and set aside.

Remove the baklava from the oven and pour the syrup over. Allow to cool completely and then serve with dried

rose petals to garnish and a cup of apple tea.

I LOVE WHIPPING UP A BATCH OF MUFFINS TO GIVE TO A FRIEND, BAKING A CAKE FOR A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, BAKING GOODIES TO GIVE AS GIFTS – THE LIST GOES ON.

PREVIEW

en-nz

2021-11-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

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