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Stack of honey sesame peanut bars

Pasteli: Greek Honey Sesame Bars with Peanuts

Christianna | Siftnwhisk
These easy, healthy and chewy Greek bars are a great snack for the whole family. Greek pasteli is sugar free and ready in 15 minutes.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Greek
Servings 12
Calories 199 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 ⅓ cups Salted Roasted Peanuts Roughly Chopped
  • 3/4 cup Sesame Seeds Toasted
  • 0.60 cup Honey
  • 2 tsp Lemon Zest (Optional)

Instructions
 

  • Line a 9 inches (22 cm) round pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • On a cutting board roughly chop the peanuts and set aside.
  • Over medium-high heat, toast the sesame seeds in a non stick skillet for 1 to 2 minutes till golden.
  • Remove toasted sesame seeds and place in a bowl.
  • Return the skillet on fire and reduce the heat on medium. Pour the honey and let it come to a boil. It will take about a minute.
  • When the honey has a caramel like smell reduce the heat on low and add the toasted sesame seeds and chopped peanuts. Be careful not to burn the honey.
  • Stir continuously for 5 minutes using a wooden spoon.
  • Remove from heat and add the lemon zest. Give it a good stir.
  • Pour the hot mixture into the prepared round pan and spread it evenly using a spatula.
  • Let it cool for 20 minutes before cutting into preferred shape.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

  • Good quality honey is really important for optimal flavor.
  • I prefer sesame seeds lightly toasted. If you wish, you can toast the sesame seeds for a few more seconds but be careful not to burn them.
  • If you use unsalted raw peanuts, add 1/4 tsp of salt in the mixture after you remove from heat and stir. To roast unsalted raw peanuts, place them in a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for about 20 minutes at 350F or until golden brown. Allow them to slightly cool down before using in the recipe.
  • Stirring the mixture for 5 minutes will evaporate the excess humidity from the honey.
  • You can substitute lemon zest for orange zest.
  • When spreading the mixture in the pan you can place a sheet of parchment paper on top and use the bottom of a glass to press down the pasteli into an even layer.
  • The chilling time will differ depending on the pan you use. A thicker layer will take longer time to cool than a thin one.
  • The pasteli will be still warm after 20 minutes, but easy to cut with a knife. If you leave it cool down completely it will be too hard to slice. 
  • Pasteli can be shaped into rectangles, diamonds or squares.
  • Pasteli is best consumed on the same day but it can be stored at room temperature for 1 to 2 days in an airtight container. Put pieces of parchment or waxed paper between layers to keep them from sticking.
  • Have any questions about the recipe or want to ask for substitutions? Contact me and I will be happy to help!
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Nutrition

Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 72mgPotassium: 179mgFiber: 3gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 2mg
Keyword energy bars, healthy snack, honey, lemon zest, peanuts, sesame seeds, sugar free snacks
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!