How to Make Ancient Greek Sesame Bars - Pasteli

Pasteli are delicious Greek sesame bars! You only need 2 ingredients to make this nutritious, ancient Greek superfood!

Pasteli is a classic, Greek snack! Not only is it delicious, but it’s healthy, too!  It's an incredible treat dating back to ancient Greece!

Sweets in ancient Greece

In ancient Greece, honey was believed to have come from the gods. It comes as no surprise that the ancient Greeks used honey for so many things since granulated sugar did not exist in ancient Greece; it arrived many centuries later. One popular honey and sesame seed delicacy was called Sisami (pronounced see-SA-mee), which is basically what modern-day Greeks refer to as Pasteli.

What is Pasteli?

Pasteli (pronounced pa-STE-lee) is a bar made with sesame seeds and honey. Various ancient Greek texts mention it, including Homer’s Iliad, where it was popular among the warriors. The father of history, Herodotus, also referred to it as “sweet cakes of sesame and honey”.

Variations of Pasteli today

Today, there are variations of Pasteli in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean, too.

In Greece, there is Pasteli made with sugar and/or a combination of nuts and spices. Pasteli made with sugar is hard and crunchy, almost like brittle. Pasteli made with just honey is much softer and chewier.  The recipe in this post uses honey instead of sugar.

Why I think you’ll love this homemade pasteli:

• There are only 2 main ingredients, with a few optional add-ins.
• It’s quick.
• It’s pretty straightforward.
• It’s very healthy.
• It tastes great!

The health benefits of Pasteli

Sesame is known to be a great source of fiber, plant protein, and B vitamins. Pasteli is also rich in antioxidants, which are beneficial for overall health.

What you’ll need to make Pasteli

All you need is honey and sesame seeds.

I always use good quality Greek honey. I briefly talk about the benefits of Greek honey in this post. Whenever I make desserts with honey, I find that the quality of the honey really makes a huge difference in the overall flavor. So, if you can’t get Greek honey, get the best honey you can or one you like!

HOW TO MAKE PASTELI

Different parts of Greece use different methods. Some areas make Pasteli in large metal pots and then the mixture is poured over a large marble slab or wooden board. Then it’s evened out and beaten with a wooden pin to the desired thickness.

Of course, these traditional methods aren’t really ideal for an ordinary kitchen! I have found a much easier way to make it at home.

First of all, I use a nonstick frying pan. It makes cleanup A LOT easier.

I also like putting the pasteli in a square pan lined with parchment paper. That way, I can just lift it out and then cut it when it’s ready.

STEP 1

Oil the bottom and sides of a pan.

STEP 2

Line the pan with parchment paper.

STEP 3

Toast the sesame seeds, put in a bowl and set aside.

STEP 4

Heat the honey in a nonstick pan until it bubbles and foams.

STEP 5

Add the sesame seeds and stir continuously.

STEP 6

Add the remaining ingredients and stir until it thickens.

STEP 7

Spoon the mixture into the pan and even it out with the back of a spoon.

STEP 8

Put a piece of parchment paper on top and press to flatten. The parchment paper will prevent you from getting burnt.

STEP 9

After about 20 minutes it should easily bend, but still be in one piece and hold its shape.

STEP 10

Lift it out of the pan and cut into bars or squares.

If you don’t mind uneven slices, don’t use a pan at all! You can just spoon it onto a large sheet of parchment paper, but don't touch it with your bare hands because it's very hot!

Why use a pan?

A pan lets me make Pasteli as thick as I want. For example, a small pan will make thicker bars, whereas a larger pan will make thin ones. For this recipe, I used a 9 ½ inch (24.5 cm) pan and the bars came out to about ½ an inch (1 cm) thick. So, if you’re going to use a pan, pick one depending on how thick or thin you want your bars to be.

Add-ins

Here are a few ideas for add-ins to add more flavor:

• orange or lemon zest
• almonds, peanuts, or pistachio nuts
• ground nutmeg
• wine
• black pepper – Ancient Greeks used to put a lot of black pepper in a sweet called gastris! Some parts of Greece today still add black pepper to Pasteli! You might want to give it a try!

 TIPS FOR SUCCESS

• I toast the sesame seeds in a nonstick pan, but you could toast them in the oven (350°F / 180°C) for about 15 minutes.
• Don’t overcook the Pasteli, otherwise it may become hard.
• When you spoon the mixture into the pan, don’t touch it! It’s very hot!
• Cut into bars or squares after about 15-20 minutes. If you wait longer than that, it will be too hard to cut.
• Store it in an air-tight container at room temperature with sheets of parchment paper between each bar to prevent them from sticking together.

MORE GREEK DESSERTS!

• Tsoureki-Traditional Greek Easter Bread
• Rizogalo (Greek Rice Pudding + Vegan Option)
• Koulourakia (Greek Easter Cookies) 
• Greek Halva Cake
• Greek Baklava Rolls (Saragli) - Refined Sugar Free
• Galaktoboureko Traditional Greek Custard Pie
• Portokalopita – Greek Orange Phyllo Cake

Let me know how this Pasteli turned out for you in the comments below!

~Voula