Turkish Delight Recipe
Lebanon
Cuisine of Turkey Turkish delight, or lokum (also loukoum), is a confection made from starch and sugar. It is often flavored with rosewater or lemon, the former giving it a characteristic pale pink color. It has a soft, sticky consistency, and is often packaged and eaten in small cubes that are dusted with sugar to prevent sticking. Some recipes include small nut pieces, usually pistac
Ingredients
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1½ cup water
- ½ tsp cream of tartar
- 2 tbsp rosewater
- Food coloring
- ½ cup chopped toasted pistachios or almonds (optional)
- Icing sugar, granulated sugar, or desiccated coconut for dusting
Procedure
- Combine sugar, 1 cup water, cream of tartar, and flavoring(s) in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Boil over medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes, until the mixture reaches "firm-ball," or 250°F (120°C) on a candy thermometer.
- In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch with ½ cup hot water, mix completely, and slowly stir into sugar mixture.
- Stir constantly until mixture is evenly combined. Continue to stir on low heat until mixture thickens and becomes clearer.
- Apply non-stick cooking spray to a form (heat-safe ice cube trays will do nicely, though not plastic ones), shallow pie pan, or jelly-roll pan.
- Pour the thickened hot mixture into the pan or form and allow to set.
- When cool, release from form or cut into cubes as applicable and roll each piece in powdered sugar, granulated sugar, or coconut.
- Store at room temperature in airtight container.
Adapted from Wikibooks Cookbook · Cookbook:Turkish Delight, CC BY-SA 3.0.