Homemade Baklava

Ingredients

• 2 packages phyllo pastry (baklava sheets)
• ghee or clarified butter
• Walnuts or pistachios or any preferred filling
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon rose water
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
• 1 cup ghee or melted butter
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Syrup (Qatr / Sheera):
• 4 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• orange blossom water
• rose water
• For more desserts see: Chocolate and green-mint cookies

Method

1. Make the syrup first: put the sugar, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan over heat, let it boil for about 5 minutes, then add orange blossom water and rose water and turn off the heat.
   Timers: 5 min
2. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
3. Prepare the baklava by greasing a baking pan with ghee and laying the first sheet of baklava pastry over it.
4. Spread the walnut or pistachio filling mixed with sugar and rose water over the first layer and press it down evenly.
5. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of melted butter over the filling, then place the second sheet of baklava pastry over the filling and press it down evenly.
6. Cut it into squares or any desired shape, then brush the top with ghee.
7. Place the baklava tray on the middle oven rack at 130°C until golden in color.
8. Remove it from the oven, pour the syrup over it, and leave it for no less than 6 hours to absorb the syrup well.
   Timers: 360 min
9. Cut it again, garnish with pistachios, and serve the baklava.
10. Rasmiyya Majdoub
11. For more desserts, here is the link: Chocolate Mint Cookies.