Thracian Baklava with Sesame Seeds and Dried Figs

Merry Christmas! I wish you all the best, have fun, enjoy the company of your loved ones and feel the joy!!

Today I have a traditional dessert from my hometown Xanthi - Greece. It's a baklava with sesame seeds and dried figs. Baklava is the most easy dessert to make, so don't be afraid, get the ingredients and serve a succulent dessert. 

Ingredients

For the syrup 

1 1 / 2 cup water 

1 cup sugar 

1 / 2 cup honey 

The peel from one lemon 

1 cinnamon stick 

Juice from 1 / 4 lemon 

For the pie 

1 pack phyllo pastry (500 gr) 

250 g melted butter 

1 cup chopped walnuts 

1 cup roasted sesame seeds

5-6 dried figs, cut into small pieces 

1 tablespoon sugar 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon  

1 teaspoon ground cloves  

1/2 cup chopped pistachios for serving

Directions

Using a saucepan, combine all the ingredients of the syrup and simmer for 15 minutes. Skim any foams that rise to the surface. Let the syrup to cold.

Thaw phyllo pastry according to package directions. Keep pastry covered with clean damp dish towel to keep it from drying out. 

Place 1/3 of pastry sheets in a greased baking pan, one by one, brushing each sheet all over with melted butter. 

Combine walnuts, sesame seeds, figs, cinnamon, clove and sugar in a bowl. 

Sprinkle the sheets and place the other 1/3 of sheets (don't forget to brush each one with butter). 

Sprinkle some filling again and continue with the last 1/3 of sheets. Bake at 350° until brown and crisp, about 30 to 35 minutes.  

When the pie is ready and hot, pour the cold syrup into the pan and let the pie absorb all of the syrup (2 hours) 

Serve with chopped pistachios on top.

Enjoy the Holidays!