Walnut baklava

Baklava is the most famous pastry from the Arabicspeaking world and is popular worldwide, as it is in Syria, thanks to the Ottomans. In our family, we always have a box of baklava in the house, ready to bring out if someone comes over for a coffee.

In Syria, we buy baklava at a shop instead of making it at home. Cities are spilling with baklava shops that sell all sorts of pastries with just the right balance of crispiness and sweetness. I personally think that the baklava sold in Europe is too sweet; it detracts from the taste of the nuts. This is why I choose to make my own baklava.