OnIslam.net

It is widely believed, however, that the Assyrians at around eighth century BCE were the first people who put together a few layers of thin bread dough, with chopped nuts in between those layers, added some honey, and baked it in their primitive wood burning ovens.

This earliest known version of baklava was baked only on special occasions. In fact, historically, baklava was considered a food for the rich until mid-19th century. Today in Turkey, one can hear a common expression often used by the poor, or even by the middle class: "I am not rich enough to eat baklava and boerek every day," but it is just a saying. Now it is everyone's meal.

Ingredients

» 1 glass flour

» 1/4 glass water

» 2 eggs

» 1/5 tablespoon salt

» 1 teaspoon olive oil

» 1 1/3 glasses starch or ready made fillo dough

Filling

» 1/2 to 1 glass melted butter

» 1 1/2 glasses ground walnuts

Syrup

» 2 glasses granulated sugar

» 2 glasses water

» 2 teaspoons lemon juice

Preparation

» Knead dough ingredients; fold and knead again.

» Cover with damp cloth and leave for a while.

» Divide dough in 8 – 10 pieces.

» Spread a thin layer of starch on dough and roll out as thinly as possible.

» Place half the rolled out dough into a pan.

» Pour melted butter on each layer.

» Spread butter and evenly sprinkle walnuts on each layer.

» On the final layer, pour the remaining melted butter.

» Grease the baking tray. » Cut the baklava into small pieces so they can fit into the baking tray.

» Put half the baklava on the baking tray.

» Place in a moderately heated oven for half-an-hour and cook until golden  brown.

» In a pan, put the sugar, water, and lemon over  moderate heat.

» Melt the sugar and then boil for 15 minutes until mixture turns to syrup.

» Remove from heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

» Brush the baklava.