Turkish Baklava

Turkish Baklava

Turkish Baklava is an iconic Turkish pastry.

Turkish Baklava

Is there anyone not familiar with Turkish Baklava yet?

So, it’s Baklava, a special pastry from Turkey.

Just pronounce it as BAKLAWA, okay…

Baklava is one of super popular pastries worldwide, you gotta know about it.

Baklava has been around since the time of the Ottoman Empire, so it’s pretty ancient.

It’s super duper sweet and comes in various shapes. There are also many flavors to choose from these days.

You can see the shapes in the picture I shared.

What do you think?

Have you ever seen or tasted it?

Are you getting curious? let’s keep reading about Baklava here.

  Turkish Baklava 

Some countries claim that Baklava originated from their land.

Not only Turkey but also Greek and the Middle East accept it as their ow dessert.

But until now, it seems like Baklava is truly associated with Turkey.

It’s a bit challenging to trace the origin of Baklava, as there’s no clear written evidence. It passes down from generations to generations through word of mouth along with the recipes.

However, I’m sure Baklava is originated from Turkey looking in this picture.

Baklava Turkish Dessert

Enjoying a cup of Turkish tea with a piece of Baklava, while gazing at the beauty of Hagia Sophia, is truly an unforgettable evening sight.

The sweetness of Baklava mixed with the bland taste of Cay as a neutralizer.

Truly delightful!

In Turkey, there are many types of Baklavas, not just the square-shaped ones like before.

For more details, let’s discuss them one by one.

  1. Baklava Gaziantep 

The first Baklava we discuss is Gaziantep Baklava.

Gaziantep is the ancient that continuously inhabited city in the world. It is located in southeast Turkey.

Renowned for its cuisine, Gaziantep is a gastronomic destination.

Why is Baklava Gaziantep very popular?

Gaziantep is the world’s best producer of Pistachio nuts.

The green color filling in Gaziantep Baklava comes from Pistachios.

And the taste of Gaziantep Pistachios is known to be delicious and very savoury.

In the past, Baklava was only available on big occasions like Eid or during the month of Ramadan.

Nowadays, Baklava is sold anytime in Gaziantep and other cities in Turkey. Hundreds of souvenir shops in Gaziantep sell it…

Baklava Gaziantep is famous for its thick and abundant Pistachio filling, like in this picture…

 

Baklava Gaziantep

For your information, this is a picture of Pistachios.

This kind of nuts are also often sold as snacks, especially in the middle east countries.

The inside of these green nuts tastes very savory and isn’t as hard as regular nuts. It’s also very tooth-friendly 🙂

The shells are creamy white and opening them isn’t difficult because they are usually half-open when consumed.

 

Pistachios for Baklava

The origin of these Pistachios is the Pistacia vera plant.

What we eat is actually its seed.

 2. Sütlü Nuriye 

The second Baklava is Sutlu Nuriye.

The filling of this Baklava is hazelnuts, which is very abundant.

 

Sütlü Nuriye

Baklava Sütlü Nuriye is not as old as Gaziantep Baklava.

It was created around the 1980s by a woman named Nuriye.

The reason was that Pistachios were quite expensive, so Nuriye decided to replace them with another type of nut, hazelnut, due to its affordable price.

 

Turkish Baklava: Sütlü Nuriye

 

It turns out that this type of Baklava was well-received and sold successfully, which is why it has endured and remained popular until now.

 

Hazelnut  Baklava: Sütlü Nuriye

In Turkish, “Sütlü” means milk.

Milk is used as a substitute for sweet syrup, which is also quite pricey. So, using milk makes the price of this Baklava cheaper.

 3. Cevizli Baklava  

The next is Cevizli Baklava, which is filled with walnuts.

Cevizli Baklava is a premium type because walnuts are quite expensive, as they are very delicious and savory.

 

Cevizli Baklava  or Walnut Baklava

The highest-priced Baklava is Cevizli Baklava because it’s much more expensive compare to other varieties with different type of fillings.

 4. Bülbül Yuvası Baklava 

Bülbül Yuvası baklava is a specific type of baklava with a unique shape, but the taste is likely to be like other baklava, with variations depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used.

This variant typically features a round shape with a small opening in the centre, resembling a bulbul’s nest. Bulbul is a native bird species that can be found in Turkey.

The centre hole of the dough will be filled with the pistachio mixture.

Bulbul Yuvasi Baklava

Bulbul Yuvasi can indeed be filled with not only pistachios but also a variety of nuts such as pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, or a combination of these.

Turkish Bulbul Yuvasi Baklava

 5. Fıstıklı Sarma Baklava  

Next is Fistikli Sarma Baklava, which is filled with pistachios abundantly.

It’s usually enjoyed with Sahlep, a traditional Turkish drink.

Fıstıklı Sarma Baklava translates to “Pistachio Rolled Baklava” in English. This is a specific type of baklava that features a rolled or coiled shape, often filled with a mixture of crushed pistachios, sugar, and sometimes cinnamon.

So, pistachios are crushed into paste and are rolled in a single layer of filo pastry,

This variation offers a different presentation compared to traditional stacked baklava.

It also creates vibrant green rolls.

Fıstıklı Sarma Baklava

Because the filling is so dominant, it’s almost like eating the pistachio crushed alone.

The baklava will be drizzled a generous amount of honey evenly over the top layer of it.

Turkish Fıstıklı Sarma Baklava

The taste is very pistachio, you should try this one.

 6. Fıstıklı Burma Kadayıf Baklava 

Now let’s talk about Fistikli Burma Kadayif Baklava.

This kind of baklava resembles kadayıf bread Baklava.

Kadayıf, or kadaif, is a type of thin noodle-like pastry. It is made by pouring a batter onto a hot pan, resulting in a noodle-like or vermicelli-like appearance.

Take a look at this picture.

Fıstıklı Burma Kadayıf Baklava

The filling is, of course, roughly chopped pistachios.

Turkish Fıstıklı Burma Kadayıf Baklava

Turkish Fıstıklı Burma Kadayıf also has unique taste, so don’t forget to try it.

 7. Baklava Fıstıklı Kaymaklı Şöbiyet 

Fistikli Kaymakli Şöbiyet Baklava is one of the ancient Baklavas. Its taste is still original with triangle shape.

Fıstıklı Kaymaklı Şöbiyet Baklava

It has no different with other baklavas, only the shape is triangular.

 8. Chocolate Baklava 

Chocolate Baklava is a favourite in souvenir shops, offering a unique and delicious souvenir for locals and visitors alike.

This kind of baklava is a delightful twist on the traditional Baklava, infusing the classic layers of phyllo dough and nuts with the rich and indulgent flavour of chocolate.

Walnut Chocolate Baklava

The classic filling for chocolate Baklava often includes walnuts.

 9. Güllaç Baklava 

Güllaç is often considered one of the predecessors of Baklava.

Gullac is usually served as stapple Iftar during the month of Ramadan in Turkey. It’s sweet and quite chewy.

Gullac is made from the thin layers of pastry that are soaked in warm milk, added with chopped walnuts, and sprinkled with rose water to make it fragrant, then sprinkled with pomegranate seeds.

There’s an addition of pomegranate in Gullac because pomegranates are very abundant in Turkey.

Gullac is usually served cold.

In the end it creates a dessert with a pudding-like consistency.

Güllaç Baklava

Güllaç has a long history and has been enjoyed by the royal family.

Turkish Güllaç Baklava

 About Turkish Baklava 

So that’s all a brief story of Turkish Baklava,

and also, the kinds of baklavas.

Next, I will briefly discuss frequently asked questions about Baklava, hopefully adding more knowledge for you.

  History of Baklava  

When did Baklava start to exist?

The history of Baklava is a common question. It is indeed a bit elusive, and while there are various theories and historical references, pinpointing its exact origin is challenging due to the lack of concrete evidence.

However, it is clear is that Baklava has been around for centuries before Christ.

It is called “baklagu” or “baklagi” in Ancient Turkish.

One of theories says that the Assyrian people around the 8th century BC introduced this baked flatbread using nuts and drizzled with honey.

Without clear and direct evidence, it may remain a plausible theory rather than a proven fact.

 

Turkish Baklava Since the Ottoman Empire

 

As time goes on, the shape and taste of Baklava continue to evolve.

 

Various type of Turkish Baklava

 PriCe of Baklava 

The price range of Baklava can reach IDR 200,000 – IDR 400,000.200.000 to Rp 400.000 per kilogram.

The price of Baklava can be influenced by various factors, including the type of filling used. Coconut-filled Baklava is cheaper than the nut-filled baklava, as coconut tends to be less expensive than certain nuts.

the origin of Baklava

 Process of Making Baklava 

Making Baklava is a bit complicated for some people due to the layering process and working with delicate phyllo dough.

However, with some patience and attention to detail, and of course practice and experience, Professional Baklava sellers develop a rhythm and skill set that allows them to create this intricate dessert efficiently.

Strech the dough gently to achieve an even thinner layer.

The process of working with phyllo dough for Baklava requires patience and a delicate touch.

Roll out the dough until it’s thin.

Roll it out some more.

Stretch and thin the dough to create a large, thin circle.

Flour everywhere…..

Keep going….

Certain types of Baklava may involve more intricate or complicated steps compared to others.

The pastry rolling stage.

This is Baklava Bulbul dough.

Pistachio filling stage.

Folding stage

The dough stage is completed.

 Baklava’s Endurance 

Baklava can last up to 2 weeks or about 15 days when stored properly.

It’s not recommended to put it in the fridge as it will change the taste.

various types of Turkish Baklava

  Difference Between Real and Fake Pistachio Baklava  

It’s easy to distinguish the difference between baklava with real and fake pistachios.

From the colour, it’s clear that the fake one will look very bright, while the real one looks more natural.

The second way is to try eating it; real pistachios taste different and more natural, while the fake ones usually overly sweets and dominated by other nuts.

Turkish Baklava with Real Pistachios

  Baklava Turkish Review 

Turkish Baklava is widely available in stores across Turkey.

You can find it widely available in various forms and flavours across Turkey.

Baklava Turkish Review

 

If you want an authentic taste, you must try Baklava in Gaziantep.

 

Turkish Baklava is popular among tourists

If you can’t make it to Gaziantep, you can buy it at Karakoy or Hafiz Mustafa shops. These shops have been renowned for making Baklava for hundreds of years.

Having culinary tour in Turkey is great idea.

Turkey is a paradise for food lovers. Its cuisine is diverse, rich, and filled with unique flavours.

The reputation of Turkish cuisine as one of the most delicious in the world is well-deserved, and it has indeed received international recognition.

Want to try it? Plan a trip to Turkey soon!

Turkey Baklava

Turkey, June 2019