Pasteli from the island of Tinos

A typical local sweet in Tinos island made with sesame seeds and honey.

Ingredients

• 500g honey
• 300g sugar
• 500g sesame seeds
• Lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Lemon tree leaves

Directions

1. Put the sesame seeds in a baking dish in the oven and let them brown a little. Let them cool.
2. Cut the lemon leaves, wash them and dry them.
3. In a saucepan, put the honey and sugar to melt over medium heat. When it melts, add the lemon zest, sesame seeds and lemon juice. When it comes to a boil, add the flour and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. To check if the pasteli is ready, put cold water in a small bowl and pour a little of the mixture. The pasteli is ready when the sesame seeds do not dissolve in the water. Test it to see how soft the pasteli is. If it is too soft, leave it on the heat longer. The longer we leave it on the heat, the harder it becomes.
4. Spread it on a cold surface (a piece of marble or cutting board) after wetting it with cold water and let it cool. Cut it into any shape you like and serve it on lemon leaves. Wet the knife constantly while cutting the pasteli so it doesn't stick.