Greek Baklava - Best Greek Baklava Recipe

Greek Baklava Recipe - Learn how to make the best Greek Baklava with greek phyllo pastry.

Ingredients

Filling
500 gr walnuts, coarsely chopped
60 gr sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pastry
500 gr fyllo pastry
180 gr unsalted butter, melted

Syrup
230 gr. caster sugar
300 ml water
2 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons lemon juice
some lemon peel
2 tablespoons honey

Preparation
Mix all the filling ingredients in a bowl.

Liberally butter the base and sides of an elongated or round baking dish. Measure the length of the fyllo against the baking dish roughly and, allowing 2 cm extra approximately for shrinkage, cut to length with a sharp knife.

Brush each layer of fyllo with melted butter and spread over the base of the container as evenly as possible. Once you have used 5 layers of pastry, sprinkle a thin layer of filling all over the surface and add 3 more layers.

Sprinkle a thin layer of filling and place 2 more sheets of fyllo on top. Sprinkle on all the remaining filling, spreading it evenly, and cover with 7-8 more layers of fyllo, brushing individually with butter. Fold any excess pastry on either of the sides over the filling and brush it with butter.

Brush the top layer liberally with butter in order to get it crisp and golden. Trim any excess pastry with a small sharp knife, keeping in mind that it will also shrink. Cut the top layers of fyllo carefully, either diagonally into diamond shapes or straight, which will result in square or elongated pieces. Be careful not to cut right down to the base, but only the top layers. This is done in order to make cutting and lifting the pieces out, once it is cooked, much easier and efficient.

Using the tips of four fingers, sprinkle drops of water all over the surface and cook it in a preheated oven, gas no.5/ 375 grades F / 190 grades C, for 15 minutes; lower the heat to gas no.4/ 350 grades F/ l80 grades C and cook for a further 20 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare the syrup. Place all the syrup ingredients, apart from the honey, in a saucepan and stir to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 6-8 minutes, add the honey and simmer for a further 5 minutes until it thickens slightly.

Let the baklava cool down then pour the hot but not boiling syrup slowly all over, through a strainer. Let it stand and absorb the syrup.

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Baklava - Best Easy Baklava Recipe

How to make best baklava dessert - so easy traditional baklava recipe. Become a baklava chef & teach others this wonderful recipe.

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
1 pound chopped nuts
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup honey

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.

Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 - 8 sheets deep.

Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows the make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.

Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes.

Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.

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Falafel Sauce - Falafel Hot Sauce Recipe

Recipe for falafel hot sauce. Falafel hot sauce can be drizzled into a falafel pita sandwich or used for dipping.

Preparation Time 5 minutes
Cooking Time 20 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup tomato paste
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon harissa or hot sauce
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

Preparation
In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for 15 -20 minutes. Sitting frequently.

Serve falafel hot sauce immediately as a dip for falafel or drizzle onto falafel pita sandwich. Falafel hot sauce is great at room temperature and even cold!

Store in refrigerator for up two weeks.

Try
Falafel Recipe from Scratch
Make Best Falafel Balls Recipe
How to Make Perfect Shape of Falafel?
Falafel Maker
Falafel Nutrition facts

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Khoubiz Recipe

Khoubiz (Flat Bread) is a staple in Arabic food. This Khoubiz recipe is simple, quick and makes perfect Khoubiz every time! Learn how to make Khoubiz (Flat Bread) the easy way!

Makes 8 loaves Oven temperature: 260 C (500 F)
Cooking time: 4-5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients
6 cup plain flour
1 package active dry yeast
2 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp oil

Preparation
Sift flour into a large mixing bowl and warm in a low oven.

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water, add remaining water and stir in salt and sugar.

Remove about 2 cups flour from bowl and set aside. Pour yeast liquid into centre and stir in some flour to make a thick liquid. Cover with cloth and leave in a warm place until frothy.

Stir in rest of flour, adding oil gradually, then beat until smooth, either by hand for 10 minutes, or on electric mixer using dough hook for 5 minutes.

Sprinkle some of the reserved flour onto a board, turn out dough and knead for 10 minutes, using more flour as required. Dough is ready when it is smooth and satiny with a slightly wrinkled texture. Shape dough into a ball.

Oil bowl, put in dough smooth side down then turn over so that top is coated with oil. Stretch plastic wrap over bowl and leave in a warm place to rise until almost doubled in bulk -- about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. Preheat oven.

Punch down dough and turn out onto lightly floured board. Knead for a minute or so, then divide into 8 equal pieces, rolling each into a ball.

Roll each piece into a 25 cm (10 inch) round and place on a lightly floured cloth. Cover with another cloth and leave for 20 minutes.

Heat a large baking sheet or flat griddle on the lowest shelf in an electric oven; in a gas oven select the section of the oven with the most heat, probably near the top.

Place a round of dough on a lightly floured baking sheet with one flat edge or on a piece of plywood, spreading it evenly. Shake to ensure that it will slide off easily.

Rub heated baking sheet or griddle with wad of paper towel dipped in oil then slide dough onto it. Bake in hot oven for 4-5 minutes until it puffs up like a balloon. If you would like it browned on top, turn quickly and leave for a minute. Remove bread and wrap in a cloth to keep it warm and soft. Bake remaining loaves.

To bake in an electric frypan (a good alternative if your gas oven does not heat evenly):
Preheat frypan on highest setting with metal lid on, vent closed. When heated, oil base quickly and slide dough onto base. Cover and cook for 3 minutes, remove lid, turn bread over, re-cover and cook further 2 minutes.

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Shish Taouk with White Rice

If you like Shish Taouk you are invited to try it with White Rice.

Ingredients

For the shish taouk marination:
750 g chicken breast fillets, cut into medium size cubes
¼ cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
½ cup yogurt or 125 ml
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 cubes MAGGI® Chicken Less Salt Bouillon, dissolved in ¼ cup or 65ml hot water
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon white ground pepper
2 small green capsicum peppers or 200 g, cut into medium cubes

For the rice:
2 cups basmati rice or 400 g, washed
3½ cups water or 875 ml
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cubes MAGGI® Seasoning for White Rice

Preparation
In a bowl, combine and mix all shish taouk marination ingredients. Cover and marinade in fridge for at least 12 hours.

In a wooden skewer, arrange chicken and capsicum.

Grill the shish taouk on medium heat for 5-7 minutes from all sides or until it’s cooked and golden brown in color.

To prepare the rice:
Add the water to a large saucepan. Add the rice, oil and MAGGI® Seasoning for White Rice cubes.

Stir constantly until it boils, cover and cook over low heat for 15- 20 minutes or until rice is cooked.

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Moroccan-spiced tuna

Jazz up tuna with Moroccan spices for a super fast meal

Ready in 10 minutes

Ingredients - serves 4
20g pack coriander (leaves and stalks)
3 garlic cloves
½ tsp each paprika , ground cumin and chilli powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
150ml extra-virgin olive oil
4 x 8oz/200g fresh tuna steaks, each about 2.5cm/1in thick

Method
1. Put the coriander, garlic, spices and lemon juice into a blender and blitz to a purée. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until you get a smooth, thick sauce. Set aside.

2. Sit the tuna steaks in a non-metallic dish and cover with two-thirds of the sauce. Cover with cling film, then leave to marinate in the fridge for about 20 mins (or for up to 4hrs).

3. Heat a griddle pan or grill. Shake off any excess marinade, season the tuna steaks, then cook for 2-4 mins, depending on thickness for medium rare, turning once (cook 2 mins more for well done). Drizzle over the remaining sauce paste to finish. Try serving with new potatoes; for a Moroccan twist, toss melted butter, harissa spice mix and chopped coriander leaves through the potatoes.
Nutrition per serving
623 kcalories, protein 54g, carbohydrate 1g, fat 45 g, saturated fat 8g, fibre 0g, salt 0.29 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, May 2006.

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Chef's Recommendation - Sambal Sotong Recipe (Spicy Squid)

Sambal Sotong - fresh squid (calamari) cooked in a classic Malay sauce; a spicy robust sauce made with chilies, shallots, garlic, stewed tomatoes, tamarind paste and belacan, a dried shrimp paste. Sambal Sotong is also a popular accompaniment to Singaporean local dish - Nasi Lemak. Popular tourist spots eg. Newton Hawker centers and Chomp-chomp Serangoon Garden also serves sambal sotong grilled over the banana leaves which are a frequent visits for bbq seafood lovers.

Ingredients :

• One lb small or med-sized fresh squid, clean the squid by laying it flat on the chopping board and gently pulling out the head in one direction. Empty the cavity of the squid. Wash it clean. Discard the head  except for a small portion of the tentacles. Slice the squid to thin rings.
• 4 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil
• One large onion, sliced
• Two ripe tomatoes, quartered
• One tbsp tamarind paste
• One cup water
• 1-2 tsp palm sugar or dark brown sugar
• salt
• 8-10 shallots
• 2 tsp belacan, also spelt belachan or blacan [dried shrimp paste]
• 4 cloves garlic
• 5 tbsp chili paste
• 4 candlenuts [buah keras/kemiri nuts] [Substitute: macadamia nuts]

(Items in red are to be ground/blended)

To Prepare :

• In a small bowl, using your fingers, mix together tamarind paste and water, then strain and discard seeds
• Using a mortar & pestle or blender, grind shallots, garlic, belacan, candlenuts, chili paste into a paste
• In a heated wok, add oil, stir-fry ground paste until quite toasted and oil starts to ooze, about 5 mins
• Add onions, tomatoes, tamarind, sugar and salt to taste
• Cover, reduce heat to med, simmer till tomatoes are well stewed (mash with spatula) and sauce thickens
• Add squid, stir fry till just opaque - do not overcook as they will become chewy!
• Dish into a serving dish, allow to sit 10 mins or so, for squid to absorb flavors
• Served Sambal Sotong over a banana leaf with steamed rice or Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice)

Recipe Source / Credit - MalaysianFood.net. Check out for more tasty recipes @ MalaysianFood.net