Sesame Brittle Recipes

SESAME BRITTLE

Steps:

• Generously oil a sheet pan (preferably one with sides) measuring at least 11 by 17-inches with vegetable oil. In a medium-sized heavy saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cream of tartar and corn syrup and bring to a boil over medium heat. Using a candy thermometer to test it, boil the mixture until it reaches 340 to 350 degrees. The color should be deep golden brown. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, then mix in the sesame seeds and baking soda. Pour the mixture onto the oiled pan and spread it out a bit with the back of a wooden spoon, to about a 1/4-inch thickness. For thinner brittle, place a silpat on top and roll to desired thickness while it's still warm. Let harden, uncovered, in a cool place, 30 to 45 minutes. (To wash the saucepan, soak it overnight.) Using your hands, wearing white gloves if desired to keep off any fingerprints, break the brittle into pieces. Store in an airtight container. To rewarm, place in a 350-degree oven.

SESAME BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
• Combine sugar, honey, and water in a small, thick bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until a smooth slurry forms, about 3 minutes. Stir in raw sesame seeds.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until mixture turns an amber-caramel color, 5 to 10 minutes. A candy thermometer should read 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Pour mixture onto prepared baking sheet.
• Cool until hardened, 15 to 20 minutes. Break into pieces.

GAJAK (PEANUT-SESAME BRITTLE)

Steps:

• Grease the back of a sheet pan and a rolling pin with ghee and set aside.
• Heat a wide, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the ghee, jaggery and 1 tablespoon water and stir well to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the caramel starts to brown and reaches 300 degrees on an instant-read or candy thermometer, about 8 to 10 minutes; you're looking for the "hard crack" stage or the point where a drop of the caramel in cold water hardens into a crunchy toffee. Don't rush this by turning the heat up too high: The caramel will burn in an instant.
• As soon as you reach 300 degrees, remove pan from the heat and quickly fold in the peanuts (and any fine powder from chopping), both types of sesame seeds, the salt and cardamom, if using, and stir until well combined. Immediately turn the mass out onto the back of the sheet pan and roll to an even 1/4-inch thickness, keeping the sides as straight as possible.
• Let set until cool enough to handle but still pliable, about 3 to 4 minutes, and slide onto a cutting board. Cut into 2-by-2-inch pieces. (Alternatively, when fully cool, the brittle can be broken into uneven, rustic chunks.) Let set completely until hard before serving. The flavors start to come together after it's been setting for 30 minutes, but it's best after 45 minutes, or even 1 hour.

SESAME SEED BRITTLE

Steps:

• Sprinkle sesame seed in ungreased heavy skillet. Cook over medium-low heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browning begins, then stirring constantly until golden brown. Remove from heat.
• Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In 2-quart microwavable bowl, stir together sugar, corn syrup and salt. Microwave uncovered on High 4 minutes or until bubbling. Stir in butter and toasted sesame seed. Microwave uncovered on High 3 to 5 minutes, stirring every minute, until golden brown.
• Stir in vanilla and baking soda (mixture will foam). Immediately pour mixture into pan; spread with lightly greased spatula to 1/4-inch thickness. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Break into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

SPICED GRILLED PINEAPPLE WITH MAPLE SESAME BRITTLE

Steps:

• To make the brittle, line a heavy baking tray with parchment, and put the maple syrup, sugar, butter and 25ml water in a heavy-based saucepan. Stir until the sugar has melted, then leave to bubble on a medium heat for 15 mins or until dark golden brown. Stir in the sesame seeds and sea salt flakes, and stir briefly before pouring onto the lined tray. Working carefully so you don't touch the sugar and burn yourself, spread out into a thin layer. Leave to cool and harden.
• Mix the lime juice and most of the lime zest with the ground ginger, mixed spice and maple syrup. Top and tail the pineapple, cut away the skin and any black marks from the flesh, then cut into 1cm slices. Toss with the lime and maple mix, then leave for at least 30 mins to marinate.
• Wait until the embers are low on a barbecue (the ideal time is after you've cooked a main) or heat a griddle pan to hot. Lightly oil the grill bars or griddle pan to prevent the fruit from sticking, and grill the pineapple for 1-2 mins on each side until golden and lightly charred. Cut into bite-sized shards, then transfer to a platter while you cook the rest.
• Finely slice the larger basil or mint leaves and keep the smaller leaves whole. Bash the brittle into pieces, and serve scattered over the charred pineapple with the herbs and a drizzle of the marinade. Scatter the remaining lime zest over the yogurt or frozen yogurt and serve on the side.

SESAME SEED BRITTLE

Steps:

• Lightly grease a 12-by-9-inch pan, and set aside. Place the honey and sugar in a medium saucepan set over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil, and let boil until it reaches 320 degrees, about 6 minutes.
• Remove from heat, add the sesame seeds, almonds, and sunflower seeds, and stir to combine. Pour the mixture onto the prepared pan, and spread out using a greased spatula. Place pan on a wire rack to cool. When brittle is cooled but not hard, ease it out of pan. Place brittle on a wire rack to cool completely. Break the brittle into serving-size pieces.

GINGER-SESAME BRITTLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast sesame seeds on a 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet until pale golden brown, about 13 minutes.
• Coat another 12-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Bring sugar, corn syrup, water, and butter to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium-high. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reaches 300 degrees. Remove from heat, and stir in sesame seeds, ginger, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Pour onto coated baking sheet, and spread into an even 1/2-inch-thick layer. Let coolcompletely. Cut into pieces.