Kuzuguvec Recipes

CLASSIC GREEK BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9 by 13-inch pan.
• Mix the nuts with cinnamon, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 cup of melted butter. Set aside. Unroll the phyllo pastry. Cut the whole stack in half to fit the pan. Cover the phyllo with a dampened clean kitchen towel to keep the phyllo from drying out as you work. Lay 2 phyllo sheets in the pan and using a brush, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 6 sheets layered. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups nut mixture on top. Layer with 2 phyllo sheets, brush with butter and add nuts to end up with 4 layers of nuts and dough. The top layer should be about 6 to 8 phyllo sheets deep.
• Using a sharp knife, cut diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut 4 long rows then make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes, until the baklava is golden and crisp.
• Make the sauce while the baklava is baking. Boil the water and remaining sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add the honey and vanilla. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the sauce over it. Let cool.
• In the meantime, place the grapes on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until the grapes start to burst.
• Serve the baklava with Greek yogurt, the baked grapes and a drizzle of honey and crushed walnuts.
• Cook's Notes: Walnuts can be replaced by any kind of nuts or a combination of nuts.
• Phyllo pastry is available in the freezer section of most grocery stores.

24 TRADITIONAL CUBAN FOODS (+ RECIPE COLLECTION)

Steps:

• Select your favorite recipe.
• Organize all the required ingredients.
• Prep a Cuban dish in 30 minutes or less!

KUGEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and stir in 6 tablespoons sliced butter.
• In a medium bowl beat egg yolks with sugar and cream cheese; stir into noodles and add sour cream, cottage cheese and salt. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into mixture. Transfer mixture to prepared dish.
• In a small bowl combine melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and graham cracker crumbs. Sprinkle over noodle mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour.

KUZU GUVEC

Steps:

• Sprinkle the eggplant slices with 1 tsp salt and let sit 20 minutes; rinse thoroughly and drain. (This step releases some of the bitter juices from the eggplant.).
• In a flameproof casserole or ovenproof large skillet, saute the lamb in butter until browned on all sides.
• Add onions and saute 2 more minutes.
• Toss together the beans through tomatoes with remaining 1 tsp salt plus pepper to taste and arrange atop the meat and eggplant.
• Add water to almost cover the vegetables, sprinkle with paprika and bring to a boil over moderate heat.
• Transfer to a preheated 350F oven and bake 50-60 minutes until lamb is tender.
• Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

CLASSIC LUKSHEN NOODLE KUGEL

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the egg noodles, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more. Combine the noodles, onion, eggs, remaining vegetable oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Pour mixture into an 8-inch square pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until firm, about 35 minutes.