National Baklava Day: The Pastry Rich with Flavor and History [Video]

posted on: Nov 13, 2024

By: Blanche Shaheen/ Arab America Contributing Writer

November 17th is National Baklava Day, and while some people might find a national day dedicated to a pastry a bit silly, baklava deserves an honorary place in baking history as a beautiful representation of peace. This delicacy, which originated in the 8th century B.C., is truely a collaboration of effort among many Middle Eastern cultures, from the Assyrians and Greeks, to the Arabs and Armenians. 

Historically baklava was considered a specialty for the rich until the mid-19th century. Later, Greek seamen and merchants traveling towards Mesopotamia soon discovered the delights of Baklava and brought the recipe to Athens. The Greeks’ major contribution to the development of this pastry is the creation of thin phyllo (or filo which means leaf in Greek) to replace the original bread-like dough. They also called the dessert Baklava. 

The Armenians, who had access to the main spice routes, incorporated cinnamon and cloves into the dessert. Then, …