Honey and Sesame Cakes (Pasteli Byzantino)
The Quirky Foodster Team
Ingredients
- Sesame seeds — 280 g (2 cups)
- Honey — 340 g (1 cup)
Method
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan over medium heat for 3–4 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Warm the honey gently in a saucepan until it thins slightly.
- Stir in the toasted sesame seeds, mixing thoroughly.
- Pour onto a lined tray and spread evenly.
- Let cool and set completely before cutting into pieces.
Introduction: A dense, chewy sweet of toasted sesame bound with honey, a treasured Byzantine dessert with roots reaching into classical Mediterranean confectionery.
Cultural Background: Honey-sesame sweets have an extremely long history across the eastern Mediterranean, and this treat continued to be enjoyed throughout the Byzantine period, its combination of two valued ingredients making it a special, energy-rich treat.
Tips: Toast the sesame seeds carefully, as they can burn quickly once they begin to colour. Let the mixture set fully before cutting for clean pieces.
Variations: Add a few crushed almonds for extra texture. Adjust the honey quantity for a softer or firmer finish.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 weeks.
Reheating: Not applicable — served at room temperature.
Nutrition: Per serving (approx.): 220 kcal, 5 g protein, 12 g fat, 24 g carbohydrate.
FAQs:
Q: How old is this style of sweet?
A: Honey-sesame confections have roots stretching back through classical antiquity across the eastern Mediterranean, continuing to be enjoyed throughout the Byzantine period.
Q: Was this an everyday treat?
A: Given honey’s relative value, it would likely have been a special, occasional sweet rather than an everyday food for most households.
- Sesame seeds — 280 g (2 cups)
- Honey — 340 g (1 cup)
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