Bajadera is a staple in Croatian culture. Created by Kraš, a major food company in Croatia, bajadera is a chocolate praline made of nougats from both almonds and hazelnuts. My mom’s bajadera however is a bit different, but just as delicious! This recipe has been in my family for years and was past down from my grandmother to my mother. Now I still haven’t learned how to make this, my mom is the one who makes it on almost every holiday and she was kind enough to write this recipe 🙂
Ingredients
- 250 g ground nuts of your choice (my mom usually uses different mixes of walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts)
- 250 g ground butter biscuits
- 170 ml / 12 tbsp water
- 220 g sugar
- 250 g butter or margarine, softened
- 200 g semi sweet chocolate, melted
- 1 large wafer (buy them cheap here)
- ganache (use a recipe of your choice)
Method
- In a bowl mix together the ground nuts and biscuits. In a small saucepan heat together water and sugar until boiling. Add butter/margarine to this hot mixture and stir until melted. Mix all of that together.
- Divide that mixture into two and add melted chocolate to one half. (My mom actually divides it to one and two thirds and adds 300 g melted chocolate to two thirds of the mixture because we like our bajadera extra chocolatey).
- Onto the large wafer spread one half of the mixture, either the chocolate one or the plain one, your choice. Let this cool in the fridge for ten minutes. When cooled spread the other half on and cool completely.
- Once when everything is cooled, spread your favourite ganache on top. My mom uses an old fashioned recipe with milk, sugar, margarine and semi sweet chocolate; but you could make a simple one by using heavy cream and chocolate.
- Let the ganache set and then cut into pieces and serve. Enjoy!