Ingredients

The following ingredients have 14 Servings
  • 1/2 pound honey
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 2 cups ground almonds, pistachios, or walnuts (plus more for sprinkling, if desired)
  • 1/2 to 2/3 cup superfine sugar ((or just blitz granulated sugar in a blender until finely ground but not powdery))
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons orange blossom water
  • 14 sheets phyllo dough (thawed if frozen)
  • 5 tablespoons (2 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter (melted)

Instruction

  • Bring the honey and water to a boil in a small saucepan and simmer for just half a minute. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool. Pour the syrup into a shallow dish.
  • Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix the 2 cups ground almonds, pistachios, or walnuts with the sugar (you can start with 1/2 cup and add more to taste if desired), cinnamon (if using), and orange blossom water.
  • Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
  • Wait to open the package of phyllo dough until you're ready to assemble the pastries. Place 1 sheet phyllo dough on the work surface and keep the remaining phyllo dough covered with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out. Place 2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons nut filling in a line 3/4 inch from one of the short ends of the phyllo dough rectangle. Extend the filling to within 3/4 inch of both of the long sides. Roll the sheet up loosely into a fat cigar shape by first turning the ends in about 1/3 of the way along to trap the filling for a turn or two, then continue to roll with the ends opened out. Repeat with the remaining phyllo sheets and filling. Keep the rolled pastries in a pile and, as you stack them, lightly brush the top pastries with melted butter so they do not dry out.
  • Place the phyllo dough pastries on a baking sheet, lightly brush the top of each with melted butter, and bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden and crisp. While the pastries are still warm, very quickly place each pastry in the syrup and turn it to coat. Arrange the pastries in a single layer on a serving plate. Let cool.
  • Serve the pastries with the remaining syrup poured over them and, if desired, sprinkled with additional ground almonds or pistachios.