Baklava is a triumph of a confection—a mix of gorgeously crisp phyllo pastry, decadent layers of nuts, and a copious drizzle of fragrant syrup. The dessert is central to Turkish and Greek cuisines and has also spread widely across the Middle East and the Balkans. Jewish communities serve baklava on holidays (typically Rosh Hashanah and Purim) and at special occasions such as weddings and bar mitzvahs. This version adds jammy dried figs to an otherwise traditional walnut filling, yielding a confection that is at once familiar and new.
Serves 8
