Sicily sits at a crossroads. Arab traders, Greek settlers, Norman rulers, Spanish influence — all of it is in the food, if you know where to look. Baklava is one of those dishes that crossed the Mediterranean and found a home on the island, made Sicilian by the particular honey that goes into it.
Phyllo, pistachios, honey. Each layer is beautiful.
Ingredients
- 150g Tutto Sicilia Orange Blossom Honey
- 270g phyllo pastry (1 standard pack, thawed)
- 200g shelled pistachios, finely chopped
- 150g walnuts, finely chopped
- 150g butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 150g caster sugar
- 100ml water
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Mix pistachios, walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves together. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 175°C. Brush a 23x33cm baking dish with melted butter.
- Layer 8 sheets of phyllo in the dish, brushing each with melted butter.
- Scatter half the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo.
- Add 8 more buttered phyllo sheets. Scatter remaining nuts.
- Finish with the remaining phyllo, each sheet buttered. Press down gently.
- Score the top layer into diamonds or squares — don't cut all the way through yet.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes until deeply golden.
- While baking, make the syrup: combine sugar, water, honey, and orange zest in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
- As soon as the baklava comes out of the oven, pour the hot syrup over the hot baklava. Let it absorb completely before cutting through.
- Cool fully before serving. It's better at room temperature.
Nonna's Notes
She said the secret is patience with the syrup. Hot on hot. Every drop into every layer. Don't rush the pour.
Orange blossom honey is the right honey for baklava. Not too assertive, not too neutral. It has a floral quality that doesn't compete with the pistachios but makes them more themselves — richer, warmer, more complex.
This is a Sunday project. Not a difficult one — phyllo pastry is forgiving once you stop being afraid of it — but the kind that takes the afternoon, makes the house smell extraordinary, and produces something people talk about after they leave.
Make it on the weekend. Eat it all week.
This is the recipe where the orange blossom honey works hardest. Everyone always asks for the recipe. Give it to them.
