Cheesecake Baklava

by: Nouran

Summary:

Bringing cultures together by merging signature recipes is my favorite thing to do to bring us all together; and so, I’ve created my take on cheesecake baklava for this year’s Ramadan recipe.

Baklava pie ingredients:

• Baklava sheets.
• ground pistachios. (Use any nuts available!)
• 2 cups ground digestive biscuits. 
• 1/4 cup sugar.
• Ghee.
• LIGHT sugar syrup.

Directions:

1. Brush baklava sheets generously with ghee.
2. Rustically lay down the sheets as shown in a pie dish/ or any dish for that matter!
3. Add a layer of pistachios.
4. In a bowl, mix in the biscuits with the sugar & ghee & add on top.
5. You can add another layer of baklava then top it with another layer of pistachios. (Optional)
6. You can add a layer of my Ramadan Special Mince khushaf to upgrade the recipe to a higher level!) (optional)
7. Top with 5 more layers of baklava sheets.
8. Cross cut with a knife as shown in video.
9. Bake in a preheated 200 degrees oven for 20-25 mins or until golden.
10. Pour cold light sugar syrup (I used heavy sugar syrup but i recommend using a lighter one.)
11. Store in room temperature for a long lasting baklava.

Notes:

You can break the leftovers into clusters and store in the freezer for a later day and serve with more cream.

Mastic Ashta Cheesecake ingredients:

• 400 ml heavy whipping cream
• 560 gms cream cheese, softened to room temperature ( 
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 200 gms Ashta cream, at room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla bean powder/extract
• 1-2 tsp orange blossom
• 7 freshly ground mastic

Directions:

1. In a cold mixing bowl, beat whipping cream on medium-high for around 4 mins until peaks appear then set aside in another bowl.
2. In the same mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, vanilla and mix to incorporate.
3. Add in Ashta, orange blossom & mastic and give it another mix until well incorporated.
4. Fold in the whipping cream carefully so as not to deflate  into the Ashta cream.
5. Chill for at least 3 hours and use at will.
6. Use with the baklava pie, Kunafa clusters, fresh strawberries or just as a finger dip!

Notes:

Pre-chill mixing bowl in the freezer for 30 mins for the best whipping cream peaks.