Pistachio Baklava Delight

Pistachio Baklava, a timeless delicacy hailing from the Ottoman Empire, is truly a delightful treat. With layers of flaky phyllo dough, rich pistachio cream, and crunchy crushed pistachios, this dessert is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Despite its elegant appearance, Pistachio Baklava is surprisingly simple to prepare, making it a wonderful addition to any dessert table. Even if pistachio cream is hard to come by, crushed pistachios alone will take this dessert to a whole new level of deliciousness!

Ingredients

📦 1 package of phyllo dough (size #4)
🧈 4 sticks of unsalted butter (melted)
🥜 2 cups of unsalted pistachios (crushed)
🍯 1 cup of pistachio cream

🍬 3 cups sugar
💧 2 cups water
🍋 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

1- Prepare the Simple Syrup:

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine 3 cups of sugar, 2 cups of water, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
Stir until the sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil.
Boil for 12 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside to cool.

2- Preheat and Prep:

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Melt 4 sticks of unsalted butter in a saucepan or microwave.

3- Assemble the Baklava:

Trim the phyllo dough to fit your baking pan. Use the trimmings for additional layers.
Brush the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan with melted butter.

4- Layering the Phyllo:

Place a layer of phyllo in the pan and brush it with butter. Repeat with half of the phyllo sheets, buttering each layer.
After laying down half the sheets, spread the pistachio cream evenly and sprinkle with 1 cup of crushed pistachios.
Continue layering the remaining phyllo sheets, brushing each layer with butter.

5- Cut and Bake:

With a sharp knife, cut the assembled baklava into the desired shapes—traditionally diamonds or squares.
Pour any remaining butter over the top.

6- Bake:

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

7- Finish:

Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately pour the cooled simple syrup evenly over the top.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of crushed pistachios for garnish.
Allow the baklava to cool completely before serving.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 24 pieces
Calories per Serving: ~230
Nutritional Info per Serving: Proteins: 4g, Fats: 18g, Carbohydrates: 18g
Equipment: Saucepan, baking pan, pastry brush, sharp knife