Baklava

I love Baklava, but have never tried to cook it before.

Heres a recipe for Baklava adopted from Rachel Allen, from her TV series and book Bake. I've written it down here, for my memory, before her recipe and video dissappear forever, (or until you buy her book). 

(The video is avalable here until Dec 31, episode 9)

I'll post my results later (once I've cooked it)

Ingredients

Baklava

Shop bought Filo (phyllo) Pastry

200 g butter melted

300g unsalted nuts e.g. almonds, pistachios. 

1.5 tsp ground cinnamon

Syrup/ Sauce
200 ml water
300g sugar
rind of orange
Orange blossom water (optional).
5 -6 cloves
cinnamon stick
100 ml honey

Technique

Baklava

• Whizz nuts and cinnamon up in processor until they form gritty texture. (Can use only one type of nut, but 2 types provides more variety and flavour)
  
• Prepare layers of filo
  
• Brush layer of melted butter into square baking oven (I don't have one, so I'll be using an oval roasting dish) 
  
• Layer a sheet of filo, and brush it again with melted butter.
  
• Lay approx 4 - 6 layers of buttered filo, 
  
• Spread a  layer of the crushed nuts over the pastry
  
• LAyer another 4 - 6 sheets of buttered filo.
  
• Spread nuts
• Continue until you have approx 3 layers of nuts
• Cut the pastry into diamonds (or desired shape). Do it now, it will be too hard once it comes out of the oven.
• Place in oven at 180 C for 40 - 45 mins. Turn down slightly after 20 mins
• To make syrup
  
• Mix ingredents in pot, and boil until reduced and syruppy.. approx 15min
• Once baklava comes out of over pour syrup over every bit and leave to soak, and cool down