Delicious Gandja Baklava Recipe - Traditional Azerbaijani Cuisine

walnuts

🥗Healthier: almonds

💰Cheaper: pecans

Almonds provide a similar texture and flavor with less cost.

honey

🥗Healthier: agave syrup

💰Cheaper: corn syrup

Agave syrup is a lower-calorie alternative.

rose water

🥗Healthier: orange blossom water

💰Cheaper: vanilla extract

Orange blossom water offers a floral note at a lower cost.

phyllo dough

🥗Healthier: whole wheat pastry dough

💰Cheaper: homemade dough

Whole wheat adds fiber while homemade can save money.

Melt 200 grams of butter.

Add 2 tablespoons of sour cream to the melted butter.

Mix in 3 egg yolks.

Add 0.5 teaspoon of yeast and 1 glass of milk to the mixture.

Prepare a medium hard dough with flour.

Sort out the largest walnuts for decoration.

Grind 700 grams of walnuts for the filling.

Mix 700 grams of walnuts with 555 grams of sugar.

Cut the dough into 220 grams for the bottom layer and 100 grams for the middle layers.

Grease the baking dish with melted butter.

Layer 220 grams of dough in the bottom of the dish and brush with melted butter.

Add a layer of the walnut and sugar mixture.

Repeat layering with 100 grams of dough and 2 tablespoons of melted butter for each layer, except for the topmost layer.

For the topmost layer, use 220 grams of dough and only brush with melted butter, no filling.

Cut the baklava into diamond shapes before baking.

Separate the yolks of the eggs for greasing on top of the baklava and add a little lemon and orange dye.

Prepare syrup by boiling 2 cups of sugar and 2 glasses of water, adding 1 tablespoon of honey, lemon juice, and lemon salt.

Cook the baklava in the top slot of the oven at 150 degrees, turning off the upper heating element.

Once the bottom is cooked, switch on the upper heating element while monitoring closely to prevent burning.

After cooking, immediately pour the syrup over the baklava.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

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