Baklawa (Lebanese Baklava)

This is one of the Arabic desserts that won my heart as a child. I swear I would devour about four pieces in one sitting as a kid.

Baklawa is just naughty good.

I so adore the aroma when it’s baking this sweet, it wafts throughout the home, filling it with that feeling of ‘something super sensational is baking’.

I don’t think there ever lived an Arab who doesn’t love this dessert. It’s always found in the kitchen when guests are over, ready to be served with some strong ahwa (Arabic coffee) or it’s always available for a special occasion.

Baklawa is pronounced as bak-lah-wah in Arabic. It is also said as baklehwah, batlehwah, batlawa depending on where in the Middle East.

Traditionally, batlewah it is not made with layers of nuts, rather a sandwich of nuts between two layers of filo pastry. 

My mother makes her Lebanese baklava by brushing each layer of pastry with ghee.

I’ve swapped out ghee with vegetable ghee and used the soaking method I learned by Chef Ahmed.

Baklawa vs Baklava

Baklawa is the Middle Eastern version whilst baklava is the Greek version. The concept of both is similar, the difference is in the syrup.

The Middle Eastern dessert uses a rose water/orange blossom sugar syrup called atter.

Whilst the Greek dessert uses a honey-based syrup.

It is believed that baklawa first originated in Assyria which then spread to the Mediterranean and various versions created from there developed into baklava.

Lebanese/Syrian Baklawa is normally quite light and not as heavy in sweetness.

😋Why you’ll love this recipe

• It’s so easy to make - you’ll be surprised
• Simply irresistible.
• No need to (butter) each layer! Save yourself some time.

✔️What you’ll need

🥘Ingredient Notes

Filo pastry - also known as phyllo pastry. Is usually found in the freezer section or fridge section. If found in the fridge there is no need to thaw out.

Cut the filo pastry to fit your tray, but allow some excess on the top layer to tuck in the edges. See video for how this is done.

Walnuts - use only raw walnuts. Try and find the freshest variety, rather than old and stale as the nut filling is the hero in this recipe.

Atter (sugar syrup) is used widely in Arabic desserts. Specifically for Baklava, atter is made in a 3:1 ratio (sugar:water) as it needs to be thicker as little is used to drizzle on top.

It (atter) can also be left to the discretion of the person eating a piece of baklawa to add as much as they like.

🔪Step by Step Guide

Here’s how to make baklawa;

Prepare Atter (Sugar Syrup)

Step 1 Over high heat, add sugar and water. Stir for 30 seconds and bring to a boil.

Once boiling add rose water/orange blossom water and then add lemon juice, continuously stirring for 1 minute and then allow to boil for 2 more minutes. 

Set aside to cool. (see pro tips)

Prepare Hashweh (Filling)

Step 2 Roughly chop walnuts into small pieces. Add chopped walnuts in a bowl with 1 tbs of sugar and ¼ cup of rose water/orange blossom water.

Mix with hands until mixture holds together but can still crumble.

Assemble Baklawa

Step 3  Brush the baking tray with a light coating of vegetable ghee. Place 20 filo dough flat into the tray. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar onto the dough. Evenly Spread hashweh (filling) on top.

Step 4 Spray 1 teaspoon of sugar onto hashweh and then cover with another 20 layers of filo dough. Tuck edges in using your fingers. 

Step 5 Pat down and press the pastry firmly so it compacts together really well. 

Step 6 Cut into diamonds (or desired shape) and cover with warm vegetable ghee.

Step 7 Place into a preheated oven of 180C (356F) on the ¾ shelf (lower than mid-shelf). Bake for 15 minutes and then turn the tray around. Bake for another 50-60minutes.

Step 8 Once baklawa is baked, take it out of the oven and drain excess ghee immediately. Lightly coat in cold sugar syrup.

Allow baklawa to completely cool at room temperature for at least 2-3 hours before re-cutting and serving. See pro tips.

🍳Variations

Though I’ve not tried these, here are some ideas for making it healthier

• Use maple syrup or agave syrup in place of sugar syrup
• Brush each layer of filo with a light olive oil rather than using vegetable ghee
• I am currently working on a healthier baklava version, so stay tuned - sign up to my newsletter to get notified.

🥘Related Recipes

Another vegan Lebanese dessert recipe is namoura it's a decadent semolina cake. Or you might like something light like my creamy rice pudding from Lebanon.

You might also like a cup sahlab drink which is a warm thick sweetened milk.

Or a wholefoods plant based no oil vegan sweet potato brownies.

Recipe