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Pasteli
Pasteli: chewy-crisp Cycladic bars of toasted sesame bound with thyme honey
Pasteli is one of the oldest sweets in Greece, and on islands like Sifnos and Andros it is still made in the home kitchen for weddings and feast days, sometimes cut into diamonds and served on lemon leaves. Toasted sesame seeds are bound in hot honey and set into a thin sheet that snaps cleanly but softens slightly as you chew, tasting of nuts and wild thyme. Common mistake: taking the honey off the heat too early, which leaves bars that stay sticky and bend instead of snapping. Chef's tip: test a drop of the honey in cold water; when it sets into a firm ball you can press without it flattening, it's ready.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Toast 10 ½ oz sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for 6–8 minutes, until pale gold and fragrant. Add 2 ⅛ oz almonds for the last 2 minutes if using. Tip onto a plate.
8 minStep 2: Brush a large sheet of baking paper with 1 tsp sunflower oil and set it on a board.
Step 3: Heat 9 oz thyme honey and 1 ¾ oz sugar in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar melts, then boil without stirring for 6–8 minutes, until it darkens a shade and a drop in cold water sets into a firm ball (about 275°F).
8 minStep 4: Stir in the sesame and 1 tsp lemon zest quickly and keep stirring over a low heat for 1 minute, until every seed is coated.
1 minStep 5: Pour onto the oiled paper, cover with a second oiled sheet and roll quickly to an even 6–7 mm thickness. Peel off the top sheet.
Step 6: While still warm and pliable, cut into diamonds or bars with an oiled knife. Leave to cool and harden for 30 minutes, then snap apart. Store in a tin between sheets of paper.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 170 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 18 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pasteli take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
- What can I use instead of thyme honey?
- Maple syrup or golden syrup, same amount.
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