"national baklava day" news and stories

Happy National Baklava Day!

There is one thing that guarantees deliciousness, and that's an unhealthy amount of butter. It dresses up toast, elevates pasta, and brings out the decadence of dessert. And baklava is no exception, with its layers of phyllo pastry drenched in butter and spiced lemon syrup.

Popular in Greece and Turkey, baklava consists of alternating layers of paper-thin phyllo dough, chopped nuts, spices and butter. Lots and lots of butter. After the pastry gets baked to achieve its flaky golden crust, honey-lemon syrup is generously drizzled on top, permeating the dessert until sticky. The dessert -- which you can make yourself, with this trusty recipe from Alton Brown -- is then cut into triangles or squares and served.

Once considered an aphrodisiac for its principal ingredients, honey and pistachios, baklava might no longer be believed to stimulate desire, but it's still capable of enticing the appetite.

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Ah, baklava -- the unctuous dessert enveloping honey and nuts in buttery layers of phyllo dough. Happy National Baklava Day!

The European-Middle Eastern delicacy actually has quite an impressive history. Dating back to the 8th Century B.C., the Assyrians used to pile nuts into thin layers of dough and top the whole thing with honey before baking it. The treat was considered a luxury, enjoyed predominantly on special occasions, and affordable only to the wealthy.

It has since come a long way, traveling to the Near East, Turkey and Armenia over time, then finally to Greece with the rise of the Grecian empire -- and the rich, buttery cinnamon-walnut treat has today made it over to the Food Network, with a fabulous classic recipe by Alton Brown. If you're feeling adventurous, try a shot at more Americanized versions of the versatile international dessert with Pear Baklava or even Chocolate Baklava.

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