Why the Turkish pastry appeals to Indians and how chefs are reimagining it
Updated On: 15 November, 2023 05:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto
Every year, National Baklava Day is celebrated on November 17 in USA but the Turkish dessert has managed to travel all over the world due to its unique elements. Indian chefs tell us how they serve the pastry and why it appeals to people’s palate here
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Every year, Baklava Day is celebrated on November 17. Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement
The very essence of baklavas is dreamy because they are so flaky, nutty, sweet and crunchy that the pastry makes one’s mouth water almost as soon as they lay their eyes upon them. It is this very ability of the yellow-green dessert that is known to have become popular because of the Ottoman Empire, that have made even city restaurants consider putting it on their menu; one of them is Butterfly High. Vinayak Patil, chef at the city-based restaurant with multiple outlets shares, “In Mumbai, a city known for its culinary diversity, baklava has carved a niche for itself as a sought-after dessert that transcends cultural boundaries. With the rise of social media and increased exposure to international cuisines, there has been a growing curiosity and enthusiasm for diverse desserts like baklava.”
It is also why Patil has taken the liberty to reinterpret the pastry not so much with its flavour but with its form. Traditionally served as a diamond-shaped pastry, the city chef has kept the essence of the sweet dish but transformed it geometrically. “We serve the baklava in our restaurant in a long cylindrical shape. The baklava is meticulously crafted, layer by layer, ensuring a perfect balance of flaky pastry, rich nuts, and sweet honey. The cylindrical shape not only enhances the presentation but also allows for a delightful play of textures with every bite,” he adds. The distinctive serving style, says Patil, aims to engage diners visually and adds an element of anticipation as they indulge in the layers of flavour.
Every year, November 17 is celebrated as National Baklava Day, made popular by the United States of America, but has now spread the world over. While every country has its own sweet dishes, the beauty of globalisation is in the fact that every country gets to fall in love with multiple others because of the confluence of cultures aided by travel and exposure to different parts of the world. Just as the Ottoman Empire travelled to different parts of the world, the baklava has found its way to different parts of India and Mumbai is only one pitstop.
Going the vegetarian route
As city restaurants are busy serving baklava in different ways, people also have the opportunity to enjoy different kinds of Turkish baklava from sweet shops at various places in the city. Among the handful is Hurrem`s, which opened its doors to the city in 2019. Only there was one change from in their recipe. Ahmed Farid, co-founder and promoter, explains, "The confectionery and cafe`s intention was to create an authentic and unique experience for consumers, which we were able to achieve by introducing a 100 per cent vegetarian version of baklava, which is originally egg-based."
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