Tea Granita With Rose Water And Baklava Recipes

BAKLAVA WITH ROSE WATER

Steps:

• Make the syrup: Bring 2 cups water, the sugar and honey to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium low; simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the syrup is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 20 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and rose water. Pour into a large liquid measuring cup or heatproof bowl and refrigerate until ready to use (or up to 1 day).
• Make the baklava: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Pulse the nuts, confectioners' sugar and cinnamon in a food processor until coarsely ground. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the vanilla and salt.
• Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with melted butter. Trim the phyllo to 9 by 13 inches with kitchen shears (fig. A); cover with a damp towel. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo in the prepared baking dish and brush with butter. Repeat with 5 more sheets of phyllo, buttering each sheet. Scatter about 3/4 cup of the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo stack. Top with 2 more sheets of phyllo, buttering each sheet, then top with another 3/4 cup of the nut mixture. Repeat to make 2 more layers (use 2 sheets of buttered phyllo and 3/4 cup nut mixture for each layer), then top with the remaining 6 sheets of phyllo, buttering each sheet (fig. B). Scatter the remaining nut mixture on top.
• Cut the baklava into 32 triangles (fig. C). Transfer to the oven and bake until golden brown and crisp, about 40 minutes (tent with foil if the nuts are browning too quickly).
• Remove from the oven and pour the prepared syrup evenly over the top. Let the syrup soak in, at least 2 hours.

TEA GRANITA WITH ROSE WATER AND BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Stir 5 cups water, sugar, and rose water in large pitcher until sugar dissolves. Add tea bags, pushing to submerge. Cover with foil; place on sunny windowsill. Let steep until tea is dark, at least 3 hours.
• Remove tea bags and discard. Mix half and half into tea. Pour mixture into 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Freeze until frozen around edges, about 1 hour. Coarsely chop mixture in dish. Freeze until almost solid, about 1 hour longer.
• Working in 2 batches, transfer granita to processor and blend until smooth. Return to same dish and freeze 1 hour. Repeat blending in 2 batches 1 more time. Freeze 1 hour.
• Using tines of fork, scrape granita in dish into flakes. Cover; freeze.
• Do ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead.
• Spoon granita into dishes; sprinkle with rose petals, if desired. Serve granita with baklava.