The first and most important step in baklava making is the selection of ingredients. At Sönmez Baklava, founders Mustafa and Adil Sönmez place great importance on the quality of the raw materials used.

Pistachios: The pistachios are sourced exclusively from Gaziantep, Turkey’s “Pistachio Capital.” These pistachios are known for their intense flavor and crispy texture, which give the baklava its distinctive taste.

Dough: The filo dough is prepared according to traditional recipes. It must be extremely thin to achieve the perfect balance of crispness and softness.

Syrup: The syrup is made with high-quality sugar and water and is often enhanced with a touch of lemon juice or rose water to add a subtle and not overly sweet aroma to the baklava.

The Art of Layering

The layering of baklava requires skill and experience. At Sönmez Baklava, each layer of dough is carefully brushed with a thin layer of butter, which ensures it remains crispy and delicious.

Rolling the Dough: The filo dough is rolled out until it reaches the desired size. At Sönmez, this process is typically done by hand to achieve the perfect thickness.

Layering: The dough is stacked in several layers. A mixture of finely chopped pistachios and sugar is placed between each layer.

Cutting: The stacked dough is cut into baklava slices or squares before being placed in the oven. This ensures the flavors are evenly distributed, and each piece is perfectly proportioned.

Baking and Syruping

Baking baklava requires precision. The dough must be baked at the right temperature to ensure it becomes crispy without burning.

Baking: Baklava is baked slowly to achieve an even golden color and crispy texture. This gives it its distinctive golden hue and crunchy texture.

Syruping: Immediately after coming out of the oven, the hot baklava is covered with the prepared syrup. The syrup slowly seeps into the layers, providing the perfect balance of sweetness and texture.

Cooling and Packaging

After being syruped, baklava needs to cool completely to allow the flavors to settle.

Cooling: The baklava is left in a cool room until it reaches the right consistency.

Packaging: At Sönmez Baklava, each piece is carefully packaged to ensure the preservation of freshness and quality. Eco-friendly packaging materials are used, which helps protect the environment while maintaining the baklava's freshness.

Quality Assurance and Tasting

Before reaching customers, baklava undergoes strict quality control. Each batch is checked for taste, texture, and appearance to ensure it meets Sönmez Baklava’s high standards.

Tasting: Regular tastings are conducted by experienced masters, ensuring that every piece of baklava has the typical flavor and texture that make Sönmez Baklava special.

At Sönmez Baklava, baklava making is a process that blends tradition and modern techniques, resulting in an extraordinary product. With carefully selected ingredients, skillful layering and baking, and strict quality assurance, it offers not just a sweet treat that delights the taste buds, but also a flavor that reflects Gaziantep and Turkey’s rich culinary tradition. For those interested in kitchen processes and traditional recipes, Sönmez Baklava provides a fascinating insight into the art of baklava making.