Azerbaijani cuisine

Pakhlava (Baku layered walnut pastry)

Thin layers of dough with a walnut and cardamom filling, cut into diamonds, glazed with saffron and soaked in honey syrup.

Well-cooked hot dish

Pakhlava (Baku layered walnut pastry) — Azerbaijani cuisine. Photograph of the dish.

Ingredients

flour
eggs
butter
walnuts or hazelnuts
sugar
cardamom
saffron
honey
water

How it is prepared

Layers of dough alternate with filling; it is cut into diamonds, brushed with saffron yolk, baked and soaked with hot syrup.

Food safety with low immunity

Nuts should be fresh, packaged and mould-free; do not use old nuts or nuts with damaged shells.
Raw, unprocessed honey is on some teams’ neutropenia lists; use it baked into desserts or choose pasteurised honey.
Eggs should be fully cooked, with firm whites and yolks.

How to prepare it during treatment

Raw unprocessed honey is on some teams’ neutropenia lists — boil the syrup or use pasteurised honey. Walnuts must be fresh and mould-free. Very sweet: keep the portion small.

Your diet during treatment is agreed with your doctor. Sample 7-day menu for the treatment period →

Storage

Store in a dry, airtight container. If you see any sign of mould, throw the whole item away.

Reheating

Can be warmed briefly in an oven or toaster.

Symptoms it may suit

Low appetite. Gives a lot of energy and protein in a small portion — can help when appetite is low.
Weight loss. Energy-dense and easy to enrich (oil, cheese, yoghurt) — can help with weight loss.

These are general observations: what suits you can change from day to day.

Treatment phases

Before treatmentmay suit
During a coursemay suit
Low counts (neutropenia)Freshly cooked and hotmay suit
Between coursesmay suit
After treatmentmay suit

Phase notes are general. During low counts, follow only your care team’s food rules.

If you have other conditions

Diabetes, Obesity. A sweet dish. With diabetes or weight concerns, discuss portion size with your team.
Heart disease, Obesity, Liver disease, Stomach and gut. Can be fatty. With heart, liver or digestive disease, or excess weight, discuss fat content and portions with your team.
Autoimmune disease, Stomach and gut. Contains wheat (gluten). With coeliac disease and some autoimmune conditions, discuss it with your team.

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Nutrition figures from a reliable source have not been added for this dish yet.

More from this cuisine

Azerbaijan: food database → · Country page →

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
Food Standards Agency (UK). Chilling
World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food manual
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
National Cancer Institute (NCI). Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment
BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2019. Neutropenic diets to prevent cancer infections: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FoodData Central — Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS)

Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

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