Halvah

A rich sesame confection hailing from the Middle East.

Recipe Ingredients:

3 cups sesame seeds
3/4 cup sesame tahini*
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Cooking Directions:

1. In a skillet, heat sesame seeds over medium heat until lightly toasted. Once cooled, add sesame seeds to a food processor one cup at a time and blend.
2. Add tahini, sugar, honey, cinnamon and allspice and pulse until mixture is thick and nearly solid.
3. Line an 8 or 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper or plastic wrap and press mixture evenly into pan. Cover and refrigerate until firm.
4. Cut into 2x1-inch bars and serve.

Makes 32 bars.

*Found in stores specializing in Middle Eastern foods. It is a paste made from raw sesame seeds. Do not substitute with the Chinese version of sesame paste, which is made from toasted sesame seeds.