The remarkable baklava is a luscious dessert created with layers of thin phyllo dough intertwined with chopped nuts, all doused in a sweet, viscous syrup. The popularity of baklava has long surpassed borders, regions, and ethnic groups to become a dessert whose origin and invention is claimed by numerous countries. It is characteristic of the cuisines of Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Levant and the broader Middle East, along with South Caucasus, Balkans, the Maghreb and Central Asia. However, it is almost impossible to pinpoint baklava's exact place of origin, and the debate about its authenticity is still going on. Traditionally, baklava is made with sheets of paper-thin pastry at the bottom, followed by chopped nuts which are then topped with additional pastry layers. This delicious dessert may be time-consuming to prepare, but well worth the effort!