Persian Pastries Recipes

PERSIAN PASTRIES

Steps:

• In a bowl combine the walnuts, sugar and cardamom. Butter a 9 by 9 by 1 3/4-inch baking dish. Cover phyllo with a very lightly dampened towel and keep covered at all times when it is not being used. Cut phyllo into 8 by 11-inch sheets. Place 1 sheet at a time on a work surface and lightly brush with butter. Place 2 tablespoons of the spiced sugar-nut mixture lengthwise down the center of each leaf of phyllo. Fold each sheet over several times lengthwise to form a 1-inch wide strip, enclosing the filling. Roll up each strip to make a coil and place flat (coil side up) in the prepared dish against the side to prevent it from uncoiling. Repeat the whole procedure with the rest of the phyllo sheets. Brush with butter and bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 40 minutes.
• Combine all of the ingredients, except nuts, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 30 minutes, cool for 10 minutes, then strain. Pour over pastries once they have come out of the oven and let soak for 1 hour. Sprinkle with walnuts or pistachios.

NAZOOK (SWEET PERSIAN PASTRY)

Steps:

• Mix 1 cup sour cream, 2 teaspoons sugar, and yeast together in a bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Mix in egg, vinegar, and oil.
• Pour 3 cups flour into a large bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup butter, working it into the flour until mixture is the consistency of meal. Stir in sour cream mixture until dough comes together.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface; knead until smooth but still slightly tacky, about 10 minutes. Cut dough into 4 pieces and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix melted butter, 2 1/2 cups sugar, and vanilla extract together in a very large bowl to make filling. Stir in 4 cups flour. Beat in egg whites.
• Roll a piece of dough into an 8x12-inch rectangle on a lightly floured work surface. Crumble 1/4 of the filling mixture on top, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the long sides. Cover filling with plastic wrap; flatten out with a rolling pin. Roll dough into a tight roll, starting with one of the long sides.
• Cut roll into 2-inch pieces at a slight angle. Arrange pieces on a rimmed baking sheet. Push tops down gently to flatten slightly. Repeat with remaining 3 pieces of dough and filling.
• Whisk egg yolks and yogurt together to make glaze. Brush glaze over pieces of dough.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool before serving, about 15 minutes.