After every two or three posts, my mind invariably turns towards sweets and desserts... Need I say more! And I don't see anyone complaining either! This post isn't about my kitchen adventures, but rather the newfound love for a sweet in particular! And what better forum than this to share a little but more about this sweet, a little background and some more info!
 |
| A serving of assorted Baklavas |
I haven’t travelled far and well to experiment and experience several cuisines, gourmet foods and the likes but I've surely tasted a few that have left a lasting impression on my mind and taste buds! One such being the lip-smacking ‘Baklava’, a rich, Mediterranean dessert, probably known to have originated in the Middle East made of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and soaked in honey.
History:
While the origins of this delicacy have been debatable, history suggests that the Assyrians first created the Baklava around the 8th century and it was the food of the wealthy until the mid-19th century, a luxury of sorts! Baklava was discovered by Greek merchants and seamen who travelled east to Mesopotamia, after which they brought the recipe to Athens.
What makes it Delicious:
 |
| Representation of various types of baklava |
Who knew something as simple as nuts, honey and a dash of spices could give such rich and delicious flavours! That's what makes the Baklava so special. The basic ingredients used in making the baklava are nuts, flat bread (phyllo) and syrup or honey. The type of nuts or the syrup ingredients often suggest the origin of the recipe. Syrup with rose water and cardamom would most likely be from Arab countries, while syrup with cinnamon and cloves would most likely from the Balkan region is what I am told. They have different varieties such as Baklava pistachio, Baklava walnut, Bird’s Nest, Burma, Fingers, Balloorieh, Kol-ou-Skor, Basma, each depending on how they are rolled, what they are filled with and how they are wrapped.
 |
| Maharashtrian Chirota & Sindhi Praghree |
My first tryst with this divine treat was almost four years ago when a friend travelled from Dubai and carried a box of baklavas for us at work. It is around the same time that baklava has slowly been finding in-roads into the palates of foodies around the country, albeit scarcely. When I traveled there, I picked up a couple of boxes and ensured I hid them from everyone!
Wonder what took them so long to introduce these delectable flavours to India, especially when several other Middle Eastern delicacies are already a rage here. Also, if you look carefully, a baklava can probably suit an Indian palate for the simple reason that we have a variety of sweets within our country that, when slightly tweaked, can resemble the baklava, like the Sindhi delicacy Praghree or the Maharashtrian Chirota.
As I understand, perhaps one reason why there is less demand of the baklava is because it is tedious to prepare, requiring the right ingredients, especially the phyllo sheets that are difficult to source in India and need to be worked with care and precision, along with the nuts and hint of spices which make it an expensive affair! In fact I happened to spend almost Rs 800 for a half a kg box of baklavas recently. Ordering them online from specialized dealers can increase the cost further.
However, if you are the adventurous kind, love food, and enjoy trying your hand at something new, I found out a recipe of creating phyllo at home and making your own baklavas.
Where can you find Baklava in namma Bengaluru:
While Baklavas are fairly easy to source in Mumbai and Delhi, it was rather challenging for me to find one in Bangalore. Hours of Google search and driving around in rain and traffic-filled roads, finally yielded some result as I found two places in Bangalore that served it, although I have managed to source it from one so far:
While Baklavas are fairly easy to source in Mumbai and Delhi, it was rather challenging for me to find one in Bangalore. Hours of Google search and driving around in rain and traffic-filled roads, finally yielded some result as I found two places in Bangalore that served it, although I have managed to source it from one so far:
- Zaks, Frazer Town, Bangalore - You have to pre-order since it is not readily available. Depending on your order, they deliver within 2-3 days and you have to pick it up from there. Price range is around Rs 700+ for 500gm of Baklava
- Byblos, Indiranagar, Bangalore - The in-house Syrian chef prepares a delectable spread, around 5-6 varieties of them, available at their live Baklava counter any time of the day! Subtle hints of cinnamon and other herbs, full of pistachio and nuts soaked in honey, the bird's nest baklava and fingers are an absolute delight among others. A box of 500 gm of Baklava can cost up to Rs 800. You can order a generous portion with your main course at the restaurant for around Rs 275
Here’s one for the Turkish touch - ‘Sizin baklava keyfini çıkarın!’
No comments:
Post a Comment