התמונה להמחשה בלבדBaklava with spiced nuts, ricotta & chocolate
Cooking With KidsA spectacular fusion of golden, crispy phyllo pastry and a rich, soft ricotta filling that imparts a velvety, creamy texture to every bite. This elegant dessert features fragrant roasted nuts layered with citrus notes and warm spices, offering a balanced sweetness perfect for sophisticated entertaining or a festive finale.
- Prep
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
Instructions
1First, make the syrup. Tip the sugar into a large saucepan with 650ml water. Stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved, then turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 mins, then squeeze in a few drops of lemon juice and simmer for a further 5 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Meanwhile, for assembling the baklava later, melt the butter in a small pan over a low heat for 5 mins, skimming and discarding any froth that rises to the surface.
2For the filling, crush all of the nuts in a pestle and mortar, or blitz in a food processor – you want a mixture of finely ground nuts with a few chunky pieces. Tip into a bowl, stir through the spices and set aside.
3In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta with the lemon and orange zests and vanilla. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas
4Brush the bottom of a large baking tray (about 35 x 47cm) with some of the melted butter. Working with one sheet of filo at a time (covering the rest with a damp tea towel to prevent it drying out), lay the sheet out on a board so one of the short ends is facing you. Sprinkle 30g of the nut mixture evenly over the whole sheet, then spoon 1 tbsp of the ricotta mixture across the end closest to you. Fold this end over to enclose the filling, then lay a long, thin skewer next to the folded edge and roll the pastry around it to create a long roll. When it’s fully rolled up, it should be roughly the thickness of a chipolata sausage. While holding one end of the rolling pin or skewer, gently scrunch the filo roll like an accordion and carefully push it off the skewer and onto the prepared tray. Repeat with the rest of the filo and fillings – you should get about 12 rolls. Cut each roll into four to make 48 large baklava, or eight to make 96 mini.
5Brush with the remaining melted butter. Bake for 20-25 mins until evenly golden, turning the tray around halfway through. While still hot, immediately pour over 5-6 ladlefuls of the syrup. You should hear the syrup sizzle as it hits the hot baklava. Set aside to cool and absorb.- 6Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn’t touch the water, or in the microwave in short bursts. Drizzle this over the cooled baklava and sprinkle with the ground pistachios.
11Step 11. Image of making baklava with spiced nuts, ricotta and chocolate
Ingredients
- 500g Sugar
- To taste Lemon Juice
- 300g Walnuts
- 200g Pecan Nuts
- 100g Almonds
- 2 tablespoons Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cardomom
- 500g Ricotta
- Zest of 1 Lemon
- Zest of 1 Orange
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean Paste
- 250g Unsalted Butter
- 500g Filo Pastry
- 100g Ground Pistachios
Nutrition
- Calories
- 1587
- Protein
- 18.2g
- Carbs
- 145.7g
Recommended Equipment & Products
- Food processor
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Family cooking
Cooking With Kids
Simple ways children can join safely, with adult guidance.
Age 3-5
Small helper
- Mash soft ingredients
- Wash fruit and vegetables
Age 6-8
Kitchen explorer
- Stir a batter
- Measure simple ingredients
Age 9+
Confident cook
- Read the steps
- Portion and shape
Adults only
Grown-up task
- Use heat
- Handle sharp tools
Adult supervision required. Match activities to the child's age and abilities.
Skills Kids Practice
- Following instructions
- Fine motor skills
- Counting
- Teamwork
A good moment to remind kids not to share spoons, to wash hands, and to check ingredients with an adult.
Chef tips
For golden, crunchy phyllo layers, brush each sheet generously with melted butter and cut the baklava into diamonds before baking so the syrup soaks in perfectly. For a flavor twist, add orange zest to the ricotta filling. If there is a nut allergy, swap them for a toasted sunflower and pumpkin seed mix for a wonderful crunchy texture.
Culinary reasoning
A spectacular fusion of golden, crispy phyllo pastry and a rich, soft ricotta filling that imparts a velvety, creamy texture to every bite. This elegant dessert features fragrant roasted nuts layered with citrus notes and warm spices, offering a balanced sweetness perfect for sophisticated entertaining or a festive finale.
