Balawa Food

EASY LEBANESE BAKLAWA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the water and sugar and boil over high heat for 15 minutes to form a syrup. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and orange blossom water (you can substitute rose water if you can't find orange blossom water), and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Open the package of phyllo dough. If your phyllo dough came in a 1 lb. box, use only half of it. Carefully lift one sheet of the phyllo (it is paper thin and very fragile, so work quickly and carefully!) and place it on a large, smooth baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush melted butter over the sheet. Place the next sheet of phyllo on top, and repeat with the butter. Repeat this process until all of the sheets have been buttered and stacked.
• Using a large, sharp knife, cut the stacked phyllo into 3 inch by 3 inch squares. Carefully roll each square up into a log , and place on another baking sheet (seam side down). Bake for 25 minutes, or until the logs start to turn a golden color.
• Using a tablespoon, pour the cooled syrup onto the baklawa rolls. Repeat if desired (for a sweeter baklawa).
• Place the pistachio nuts in a resealable plastic bag. Using a rolling pin, crush the nuts. Place the baklawa logs onto a serving plate and top with the nuts. Makes about 15 pieces.

BAKLAWA (LEBANESE VERSION OF BAKLAVA)

Steps:

• Unwrap and carefully unfold thawed phyllo dough; cover with plastic wrap or wax paper and a damp cloth to keep the dough from drying out.
• FOR THE FILLING -- Grind the walnuts coarsely, mix with sugar and orange blossom water until well blended. Butter a 12 x 16 inch baking pan. Render the butter.
• FOR THE ASSEMBLY -- Layer one package of the phyllo sheets in the pan, buttering generously between each sheet with a pastry brush or cloth dipped in butter. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of water with the walnut mixture and put over the top of the last sheet, making sure to keep the layer of walnuts level.
• Repeat the same procedure with the second package of dough, buttering generously between each sheet, and butter the top. Cut into diamonds, dipping the knife into hot water as you go for easier cutting. Pour over any remaining butter.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour (depending on your oven) or until bottom is done and top is golden brown. If top does not brown nicely, put the baklawa under the broiler for a few seconds, watching constantly, as it will burn very quickly.
• FOR THE SYRUP -- Mix sugar and water together and bring to a boil. Boil about 15-20 minutes. Remove syrup from heat, add lemon juice and orange blossom water. Stir and let cool.
• SHORTCUT -- Butter pan and place one whole package of phyllo dough in pan, butter top, and add nut filling. Place second package of phyllo dough over nuts and butter the top. Cut into diamonds and pour all the rendered butter into the pan, making sure it settles into all the cuts and around edges. Bake as directed above.