Recipe - Macedonian Pear And Fig Strudel

1 pound Dried figs; stemmed, about 4
Cups
1 2/3 cup Unsweetened pear juice
10 Ripe pears
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
One half teaspoon Allspice
One half pound Filo dough
One half cup Butter; melted
1 cup Whole wheat bread crumbs;
toasted
One half cup Honey; to taste
One half cup Toasted hazelnuts; chopped

Cover the figs with pear juice and bring them to a boil. Lower the heat
and simmer, covered, for about 25 minutes, until the figs are tender. In a
blender or food processor, puree the figs and their cooling juice to make
about 3 One half cups of smooth fig paste.

Meanwhile, peel and core the pears and chop them into bitesized pieces. In
a large bowl combine the fig paste, pears, cinnamon, and allspice.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

To assemble the strudel, butter a 9 X 14inch baking pan and layer ten
sheets of filo, two at a time, brushing butter on every second sheet and
sprinkling it with bread crumbs. Spread the pear filling evenly on the top
sheet of filo. Cover it with ten more sheets of filo, layered as before
with butter and bread crumbs.

Score the top sheets of filo into pieces approximately 3 inches square.
This will make it easier to cut the strudel later and will prevent the top
layer from crumbling as you cut it. Be careful not to score the top layers
all the way through to the filling, however, or the filling juices will
bubble up as the strudel bakes.

Bake the strudel for about 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown and crisp.
Allow it to cool for 15 minutes. Then heat the honey gently, stirring
constantly, until warm and more fluid. Drizzle it evenly over the strudel
and top with the nuts. Use a sharp knife to cut the strudel.
Recipe By : Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant, Simon & Schuster

Posted to EATL Digest 30 Sep 96

Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 13:14:39 0400

From: "John M. Nardo M.D." jnardo@ONRAMP.NET

NOTES : A honeythickened dessert that rivals worldfamous baklava. Made
with thin, light sheets of filo, this delicate strudel provides an elegant
ending to a meal.