Baklava I

Ground walnuts are sweetened with sugar and cinnamon and baked in phyllo, then doused in a simple syrup--no honey in this version!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 236 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups water
• 3 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
• 5 tablespoons margarine
• 5 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 pound walnuts

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.

Step 2

Cut phyllo dough to size of pan, and place half the sheets in the bottom of the pan. Grind walnuts with 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon in food processor or blender. Spread ground walnut mixture evenly over phyllo. lace remaining phyllo sheets on top of walnut mixture.

Step 3

Melt margarine with oil in small saucepan over low heat or in microwave. Brush over top layer of phyllo. Cut top layers of phyllo into diamond shapes with a sharp knife.

Step 4

Bake in preheated oven on center rack until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

While baklava is baking, make the syrup: Combine 3 1/2 cups sugar, water and lemon juice in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Let cool slightly.

Step 6

Remove baklava from oven and pour syrup over hot pastry. Cool completely before serving.