Baklavas - Greek Sweet

Baklavas are a very popular Greek sweet which appears to have its roots in Ancient Greek gastronomy, when they used to wrap various ingredients in puff pasty and prepare sweets.


Ingredients:-

1 kg roughly chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup toasted bread
2 tbsps ground cinnamon and clove
1/2 kg filo pastry
3/4 cup olive oil for basting the pastry sheets.

Syrup

1 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup wter
2 bsps lemon juice


Method

In a large bowl mix the walnuts, toasted bread, sugar, cinnamon and clove powder.  Brust a rectangular tray with olive oil and place 4 pastry sheets, one at a time, brushing each one with olive oil.  Spread about 1/3 of the nut mixture over the last sheet and then place 2 further pastry sheets over the nuts, one at a time, brushing again with olive oil.  Continue doing this until all the ingredients are used up.  On top, place 4 pastry sheets, each one brushed with olive oil. Sprinkle the top sheet with a little water and olive oil.

Cut into serving portions with a knife and bake in a preheated oven (180c) until golden brown.

Whilst cooking prepare the syrup:  In a large saucepan put sugar, honey, water and the lemon juice and bring to the boil.  Simmer for 10 minutes and pour the hot syrup over the hot baklavas as soon as you remove them from the oven.