Classic Greek Baklava
- Level: Intermediate
- Yield: s: 6 to 8 servings
-
- Nutritional Analysis
- Per Serving
- Serving Size
- 1 of 8 servings
- Calories
- 1424
- Total Fat
- 91
- Saturated Fat
- 23
- Carbohydrates
- 148
- Dietary Fiber
- 8
- Sugar
- 106
- Protein
- 21
- Cholesterol
- 66
- Sodium
- 302
- Total: 2 hr 25 min
- Prep: 25 min
- Inactive: 1 hr
- Cook: 1 hr
Ingredients
6 cups chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup melted butter
1 (16-ounce) package phyllo pastry
2 cups water
1 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups grapes (recommended: Corinthian)
3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup Greek yogurt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9 by 13-inch pan.
- Mix the nuts with cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Set aside. Unroll the phyllo pastry. Cut the whole stack in half to fit the pan. Cover the phyllo with a dampened clean kitchen towel to keep the phyllo from drying out as you work. Lay 2 phyllo sheets in the pan and using a brush, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 6 sheets layered. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups nut mixture on top. Layer with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter and add nuts to end up with 4 layers of nuts and dough. The top layer should be about 6 to 8 phyllo sheets deep.
- Using a sharp knife, cut diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut 4 long rows then make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the baklava is golden and crisp.
- Make the sauce while the baklava is baking. Boil the water and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the honey and vanilla. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the sauce over it. Let cool.
- In the meantime, place the grapes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until the grapes start to burst.
- Serve the baklava with Greek yogurt, the baked grapes and a drizzle of honey and crushed walnuts.
- Cook's Notes: Walnuts can be replaced by any kind of nuts or a combination of nuts.
- Phyllo pastry is available in the freezer section of most grocery stores.