Kesme Helva Recipes

HALVA 5 WAYS

Steps:

• Line an 8x8" baking pan or a 9x4" loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2" overhang on 2 sides. Using a wooden spoon, mix tahini, salt, and vanilla in a medium heatproof bowl.
• Pour 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan, then stir in sugar. Attach a candy thermometer to side of pan.
• Bring sugar to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally to help sugar dissolve, until thermometer registers 250°F. Immediately remove syrup from heat. Gradually stream syrup into tahini mixture, mixing tahini constantly with wooden spoon. Continue to stir just until halva comes together in a smooth mass and starts to pull away from sides of bowl (less than a minute). Be careful not to overmix or halva will be crumbly.
• Working quickly, scrape halva into prepared pan, pushing toward edges; smooth top. Let cool to room temperature, then cover tightly with plastic and chill at least 2 hours. Remove from pan using parchment overhang. Slice as desired to serve.
• Do Ahead: Halva can be made 3 weeks ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.
• For Pistachio-Rose Halva
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 300°F. Spread 1 cup unsalted shelled pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until fragrant and lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer nuts to a plate. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
• Prepare halva, adding half of the chopped pistachios and 1/4 tsp. rosewater to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Stir sugar syrup into tahini mixture and form halva as directed. Sprinkle remaining nuts over, pressing gently to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.
• For Cardamom-Chocolate Halva:
• Prepare halva, adding 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Stir sugar syrup into tahini mixture, then quickly stir in 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate just to combine (you want to see streaks of chocolate). Form halva as directed. Sprinkle 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate over, pressing gently to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.
• For Lemon-Poppy Seed Halva:
• Prepare halva, adding 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Add 1 Tbsp. finely grated lemon zest to water in saucepan before making the sugar syrup, then prepare syrup as directed.
• Form halva as directed. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds over, pressing very gently just to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.
• For Chocolate-Za'atar Halvah:
• Prepare halva, adding 1/2 tsp. za'atar to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Stir sugar syrup into tahini mixture as directed, then quickly stir in 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate just to combine (you want to see streaks of chocolate). Form halva as directed. Sprinkle 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate over, pressing gently to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.

CREAMY CASHEW AND VEGETABLE KORMA

Steps:

• Put the coconut into a bowl and cover with 2 cups of boiling water; stir, and let sit for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile heat the oil in a large saucepan, then put in the onion; cover, and let cook over gentle heat for 7 minutes.
• While the onion is cooking, halve the chilies, remove the seeds, then slice the chilies finely and add to the saucepan, along with the garlic (Keep your hands away from your face while preparing the chilies, and wash them well afterwards because the juice can burn your skin).
• Add the spices to the saucepan, stir well, and cook for a further 1 to 2 minutes.
• Strain the coconut liquid, discarding the solids.
• If you have a food processor or blender, whizz the cashews to a smooth, creamy consistency with the coconut liquid; or, grind the cashews as finely as you can (an electric coffee grinder does this well, in small batches), then mix with the coconut liquid.
• Either way, add this mixture to the saucepan; season with salt and pepper, cover, and remove from the heat.
• Cook the broccoli and green beans in a large covered saucepan containing 1/2 inch of boiling water, to half-boil, half-steam them, until they are only just tender.
• Keep them well on the crisp side as they will cook a bit more when they are added to the korma.
• Drain the vegetables, then stir them gently into the creamy cashew mixture, along with the frozen peas.
• Cook over gentle heat until the korma is hot.
• Check the seasoning, sprinkle with the cilantro, and serve.

SESAME KALE CRISPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees.
• In a large bowl, drizzle kale with oil, lemon juice, and sesame seeds. Season with salt. Toss until evenly coated.
• Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and, using a spatula, flip kale leaves over. Return to oven and continue cooking until kale is dry and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes more. Let cool completely.