You eat with your eyes right? Well my eyes gravitate towards anything sweet! And if there is honey in it, it is sure to be a sweet treat. To my joy this treat only requires TWO ingredients! Sure you can add more flavors, but the simple version takes just 2 ingredients. Sesame & Honey!! That's it! In Greece it is known as Pasteli, and can be found everywhere. From the street corner kiosk (Periptero) to the grocery to the bakery! I remember years ago in San Francisco I was grabbing some items from the Walgreens near work, when I happended upon a package of Pasteli. And it was true Greek pasteli, in San Francisco, at a Walgreens! From these places into my tummy for sure, lol!
It is important to know that sesame seeds do not have a long shelf life and if left unused will go bad. So if you find yourself with an abundant amount, voila! Now you have another way to use them.
Simple Recipe for Pasteli:
Equal amounts in ounces of sesame seeds and honey. Prepare a lightly oiled/sprayed parchment paper or a Silpat mat to the side.
Toast the sesame seeds in a pan over heat or in the oven until light golden brown, I find it easier to do this on the stove top as I can move the seeds around easily and prevent them from burning.
Once the seeds are toasted, set aside and place honey in a pot and boil for 3-5 minutes, until the honey reaches a temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the honey has reached the necessary temperature, mix in the seeds and stir to combine and coat seeds with honey. Allow mixture to cook slightly longer, reaching no higher than 266 degrees Faherenheit (Hard Ball stage).
NOTE: You can test the mixture to see if it ready by dropping a small ball of the mix in a glass of water. If the ball doesn't split, the mix is ready, otherwise cook a little bit longer.
Remove from heat and spread mixture evenly on parchment or silpat. You can use a spatula to spread throughout, or place another oiled paper on top and use a rolling pin to roll out to about 1/4-1/2 in thickness. Let cool about 15 minutes first, and then if you want even pieces of the sweet, at this point you can make an indent of where you plant to cut, then let it cool completely. Your other option is too cool completely as one large piece and break uneven pieces once it has set.
Store the piece with wax paper in between to prevent one big sesame blob.
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