Turkish American Food: Baklava

Baklava, an Ottoman Turkish confection consisting of thin layers of dough layered with nuts and sweetened with honey or syrup, was known in various incarnations throughout the Near East, but the recipe was perfected by pastry makers in the Ottoman kitchens of Topkapi Palace. Often served in Turkish American homes with a cup of Turkish coffee, baklava has many variations and is a staple sweet of the Turkish diaspora in the United States.