Wednesday, February 26, 2014

How To Choose The Best Baklava Online

By Leticia Jensen


In simple terms baklava is a pastry dessert commonly associated with the Middle East. This delicacy is very rich and sweet and so is ideal as something to serve alongside the very strong coffee they tend to serve in countries such as Lebanon. However you do not necessarily have to travel hundreds of miles and with a bit of savvy you can find the best baklava online.

When you look for baklava on the internet the chances are you will see some people debating the origin of the dessert. Typically food historians believe that the dish is a progression between the traditional layered bread dishes served in Turkey and modern filo pastry dishes. What is known is that it was traditionally a gift given by the Sultan on the fifteenth of the month of Ramadan.

The exact origin of baklava is debated. Some historians have suggested that the recipe goes as far back as ancient civilisations such as Mesopotamia. Others believe that its origins date back to the Ottoman Empire. What is definitely true is that it was offered as a gift by Sultans in the Fifteenth century.

As with any form of product when you buy baklava you will get some that are mass produced in factories and others that are produced by hand in the traditional manner. Part of the problem is that some mass produced products will inevitably contain preservatives in order to prolong the shelf life of the pastries. This is also likely to mean the pastry is not as rich as handmade pastries.

The recipe is fairly simple. The filling is typically made with chopped almonds, chopped walnuts, caster sugar as well as cinnamon and cloves for flavour. Some people add breadcrumbs in order to bind the filling together. The syrup contains sugar, water, cinnamon and lemon juice. It is then topped with unsalted butter and filo pastry.

Ideally you want a company that sources the best ingredients. They ought to be fresh and authentic. Equally the process of making the pastry should be done by hand rather than through a factory. The main reason this is important as that the ingredients are more likely to be fresh and less likely to contain artificial preservatives and additives in order to prolong the shelf life of the product.

Another recommendation is to use companies that source specifically from the Middle East or Mediterranean sources. Ideally you also want one that gets their ingredients from sustainable sources. This is something that should be clearly stated on the website as this is something a company ought to be proud of. If it is not clear then they ought to include information giving you information on the ingredients contained in their products. If it is not clear then it is better to look elsewhere!

You can find a number of companies that sell baklava from a range of different sources. It is also possible to find various sites that offer taste tests and reviews. Equally some companies may also be willing to supply free samples. If this is possible it is worth asking as you can test for yourself to see if you personally like what the company has to offer. Remember to check their delivery options as ideally you want to get something as fresh as possible!




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