Last week I asked a serious question on Instagram. “How are you?”…. like, really.
My friend Anastasia answered that she had just crumbled her mom’s homemade baklava over here breakfast granola so she was FINE, INDEED.
This got me thinking…. baklava is honey, citrus, walnuts, spice, heart, and phyllo dough. I feel like most of those ingredients, besides the phyllo dough make a GREAT granola. Swap the phyllo for oats, add extra nuts and apricots. Well now this mash-up is sounding like breakfast perfection.
I took to the kitchen. I took to my phone to text Anastasia about walnuts versus pistachios. She promptly sent me her mom’s baklava recipe (I’ve tucked that away for my future self) and a picture of the honey syrup her family keeps stocked in the pantry. I decided I was worthy of both walnuts AND pistachios, and added macadamia nuts because I was feeling spendy. Also on the grocery list: a tub of Greek yogurt and a fresh pomegranate.
The combination is heavenly and has me setting aside the dollars that I’m not spending on macadamia nuts to save for a trip to Greece with Anastasia later this fall. Honestly, what wonders come from a simple questions: granola and plans for international travel – OK let’s get it!
Here’s what you need to make Baklava Granola:
• old-fashioned oats. Look out for a gluten-free version if that’s important to you.
• very coarsely chopped walnuts. I think walnuts make this granola baklava-y.
