Baklava with Spiced Nuts, Ricotta & Chocolate

Recipe Details

Preparation Time

45 mins

Cooking Time

1 hr and 5 mins

Ingredients

• 250g sugar
• 500ml water
• 300g walnuts
• 200g pecans
• 100g almonds
• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 500g ricotta
• 1 lemon
• Zested, 1 orange or clementine
• Zested, 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
• 250g unsalted butter
• 500g filo pastry
• 150g dark chocolate
• 100g finely ground pistachios

Method

1. Heat the sugar and water in a large saucepan over medium heat until dissolved. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Let cool.
3. Crush the nuts in a pestle and mortar or blitz in a food processor until coarsely chopped.
4. Mix ricotta with lemon zest, orange zest, vanilla bean paste, cinnamon, and cardamom.
5. Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
6. Brush the bottom of the tray with melted butter. Place one sheet of filo on top, brushing with butter if necessary.
7. Sprinkle 30g of nut mixture over the pastry, leaving a 1cm border around the edges. Spoon ricotta mixture along the edge, then fold the pastry over to enclose. Repeat for remaining ingredients.
8. Cut each roll into 4-6 portions depending on desired size. Brush with melted butter and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
9. Immediately pour the cooled syrup over the hot baklava. Let cool completely before serving.