Baklava was brought (along many others) by the Ottomans, and is prepared differently depending on the regions and cities. In Iranian cuisine, a drier version of baklava is cooked and presented in smaller diamond-shaped cuts flavored with rose water. The cities of and are famous for their baklava, which is widely distributed in Iran. Persian baklava uses a combination of chopped almonds and pistachios spiced with cardamom and a rose water-scented syrup and is lighter than other Middle Eastern versions. Baklava Baklava (, , or ; ) is a rich, sweet dessert pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped
Bulgarian cuisine St. Nicholas, December 6) fish (usually carp), while Gergyovden (Day of St. George, May 6) is typically celebrated with roast lamb. As in many areas of the Balkans that were formerly enslaved by the Ottoman Empire, food in Bulgaria is influenced by Turkish cuisine and Ottoman cuisine—"ayran", "baklava", "gyuvech", and "moussaka" are all of Ottoman derivation. Bulgarian Breakfast Cold cuts Bulgaria has a strong tradition of using milk and dairy products. The name Halva (халва) is used for several related varieties of the Middle Eastern dessert. Tahan/Tahini halva (тахан/тахини халва) is the most popular version, available in two different types