Facts you didn't know about holiday baklava

2025-01-01 20:20:00, Shëndeti CNA

December can be called without fear the month of holidays and family joys.

Every year, decorations are put up in our homes and the discussion of the recipes that will be prepared during the New Year's dinner begins.

What is never missing is precisely the delicious baklava full of sherbet and nuts.

This dessert belongs to the culinary tradition of our country for hundreds of years, but despite the fact that we have become experts in its preparation and tasting, there are some facts that we have not heard before.

AgroWeb.org has decided to share with its readers all this written information which is really interesting.

The origin of Baklava

Did you know that baklava is the ancestor of the delicious strudel with apples and walnuts.

Both of these delicacies are created by Turkish patisseries using crispy noodles, layers filled with crushed nuts and whole syrup.

Famous Thin Noodles

Those who have prepared this dessert know the importance of the thickness of the pastry.

One piece of advice you hear when noodles are discussed is that they should be transparent enough to read a newspaper through it.

Greek grandmothers deserve credit for this fact, as they opened them 'as thin as a leaf'.

This tradition, which continues to be followed in many countries, comes from the very meaning of the word noodles in old Greek, "leaves".

Baklava party

In many countries of the Western Balkans and the Middle East, the day of this dessert is celebrated on November 17.

Each city organizes a fair where participants compete for the best taste of baklava by preparing the recipe inherited from the family.

The name of Baklava

Although in many historical documents the name of this dessert is thought to be from Turkish, there are data that point to a Mongolian origin.

The word 'baklava' comes from the Mongolian word 'to wrap' which is related to the old process of preparing this delicacy.

Baklava Cutting Form

As we know, cutting this dessert is another skill.

The records show that its shape like a star or rhombus flower comes from Lebanon.

Photos of old baklava recipes from this country clearly show the diamond-shaped cut, which was also used by Turkish pastry shops.

Varieties of Baklava in Cities

In Greece, baklava is supposed to be prepared with 33 noodles, as they refer to the years of Christ's life, so it is prepared for Christmas.

In the Balkans, unlike other countries, baklava is prepared with nuts and served with sugar. Also, in these places, this dessert is also prepared for the Ramadan holiday.

Meanwhile, in Israel, the classic dessert takes a different form as it is prepared with pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, sugared butter, cinnamon and syrup combined with orange or lemon peel./AgroWeb.org