Pasteli (Greek sesame bars)

These easy-to-make bars are not too crunchy, not too soft and wonderfully delicious.

Pasteli (Greek sesame bars). Credit: Everyday Gourmet with Justine Schofield

• makes

  20

• prep

  10 minutes

• cook

  15 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 500 g honey
• 1½ tbsp sugar
• ½ a 25g packet vanilla sugar
• 500 g sesame seeds, toasted in the oven until lightly golden
• 500 g walnuts
• 1 cup flaked almonds

Instructions

1. Combine the honey with the sugar and vanilla sugar in a saucepan, and heat over a medium heat until it starts to bubble.
2. Add the sesame seeds. Cook slowly, stirring constantly, for about 10-15 minutes until the mixture develops a golden-caramel colour.
3. Mix in the walnuts.
4. Spread some baking paper in a shallow tray or stone cutting board. Pour the hot sesame mixture onto it and work the surface with a spatula until it has a uniform thickness of about 1-1.2 cm.
5. Take some baking paper, place it on top of the sesame mixture, and use a rolling pin to gently even out the surface.
6. Remove the baking paper, sprinkle the almond flakes on top and press in (you can use the same sheet of baking paper on top of the mixture to do this). Cut into diamond shapes and let it set at room temperature.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.