Baklava cheesecake

I can guide you in preparing a Baklava Cheesecake, combining the Greek and Middle Eastern sweet tradition of baklava with the Western tradition of cheesecake. It will be a fascinating culinary journey!

Ingredients

For the Baklava base:

• 200 g of chopped walnuts
• 100 g of chopped pistachios
• 50 g of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 200 g of filo pastry
• 150 g of melted butter

For the Cheesecake filling:

• 500 g of cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
• 120 g of icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice

For the syrup:

• 150 g of granulated sugar
• 90 ml of water
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• Cinnamon stick (1 piece)

For decoration:

• Chopped pistachios
• Dried rose petals (optional)

Preparation

1. Prepare the baklava base: mix the chopped nuts, pistachios, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Take a sheet of filo pastry, brush it with melted butter, and overlay another sheet, continuing until you have a total of 4-5 layers.
2. Distribute the nut mixture onto the filo sheets, rolling them gently to form a long roll. Cut the roll into sections that fit to line the bottom of a springform pan, previously buttered or lined with parchment paper. Cover the bottom of the pan with the baklava rolls, pressing down well.
3. Bake the baklava base at 180 °C for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool.
4. Prepare the cheesecake filling: beat the cream cheese with icing sugar until smooth. Add vanilla extract, eggs, and lemon juice, mixing until you have a uniform mixture.
5. Pour the cheesecake filling over the cooled baklava base and bake in the oven at 160 °C for about 40 minutes or until the center seems almost completely set.
6. Prepare the syrup: in a small pot, combine sugar, water, honey, lemon zest, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes. Allow to cool.
7. When the cheesecake is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan.
8. Once cooled, pour the cold syrup over the cheesecake and decorate with chopped pistachios and, if desired, dried rose petals.
9. Store in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving, to allow all the flavors to blend perfectly.

Curiosity

Baklava is a dessert made of multi-layered filo pastry, buttered and stuffed with chopped nuts, typically walnuts or pistachios, then soaked in syrup or honey. The addition of cheesecake is a modern twist that creates a fusion of flavors and textures that is unique.