Sesame honey candy, or pasteli, is a traditional Greek confection which combines the simplest of ingredients to create a wholesome, natural treat featuring three simple ingredients: sesame seeds, honey and unrefined sea salt. Often served for Easter, though a charming treat any time of the year, sesame honey candy are dense with sesame flavor and offer pleasantly chewy candy.

Sesame seeds offer a rich source of minerals including calcium and zinc, and they frequently make the list of the best sources of vitamins and minerals. Indeed, sesame seeds are a rich source of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, calcium and magnesium. The hulls of sesame seeds contain oxalates, and, for this reason, I recommend using hulled sesame seeds not only for better mineral absorption, but also for improved flavor.

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Sesame Honey Candy (Pasteli)

A traditional Greek confection, sesame honey candy combines the simplest of ingredients – gently toasted sesame seeds, unrefined sea salt and honey – for natural treat. An alternative to overly sweet candies, sesame honey candy is wholesome but should, like any sweet, be eaten as a rare treat.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

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Ingredients

1 ½ cups hulled sesame seeds
½ cup honey
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
extra virgin olive oil (for greasing the baking sheet)

Instructions

Generously grease a baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.
Heat a well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium-high flame until it becomes hot to the touch. Pour the sesame seeds into the hot pan and stir them continuously with wooden spoon until they’re well-toasted and golden-brown in color – about 5 minutes.
Stir honey and sea salt into the toasted sesame seeds until they become well-coated and the mixture stiffens.
Pour the mixture of honey and sesame seeds onto your greased baking sheet and pat down and smooth out the mixture with a wooden spoon.
Score the candy into pieces of ¼-inch by 1-inch and set the pan aside until the candy is cool enough to handle comfortably.
When cool to the touch, but still warm enough to be malleable, grease your fingers with olive oil and roll the pieces of honey candy into small small, round logs.
Allow to cool completely before serving.