Pistachio Baklava Recipe (with Video)

Preparation of Baklava
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Brush the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan with ghee.
2. Unroll the two sleeves of phyllo sheets and cut off an inch at the end to make them fit into the 9 x 13 pan.
3. In a large bowl, stir together the pistachios and granulated sugar until well combined.
4. Lay one stack of 20 phyllo sheets in the prepared pan. Add about 10 more phyllo sheets on top of the first stack from the second sleeve. Spread the nuts mixture over the phyllo in one even layer. Lay the remaining phyllo sheets over the nuts.
5. Pour the melted ghee over the baklava and tilt the pan carefully to spread the ghee all over. Cut the baklava into diamonds by making 5 cuts lengthwise and 9 cuts crosswise on the diagonal.
6. Bake until golden brown all the way into the cut lines, about 45-50 minutes, rotating the baklava halfway through baking.
Making the Simple Syrup
1. Meanwhile, make the simple syrup by combining the water, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is thickened but still clear colored, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat, add the orange blossom water, and set aside to cool.
2. When the baklava is done cooking, remove the pan from the oven and immediately pour the cooled simple syrup evenly over the baklava. Allow to cool at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving.