Vegan Sesame Halvah Food

SESAME HALVA, RAW VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE, WHEAT FREE, DAIRY FREE

Steps:

• process the sesame seeds for until a paste consistency, scrapping down the sides as required. This may take several minutes. If your machine gets warm (you don't want the paste getting too warm) just take a break and let it cool a bit. Now you have your own fresh tahini.
• Add the finely chopped dates (can use date paste here, I make my own date paste when I'm motivated so I've got it there for later) and vanilla and process scrapping down the sides until the dates are incorporated and the halva is a thick grainy paste. At this stage you take it out and mix by hand any additions you would like.
• Press it into a suitable container, preferably a shallow one and put it in the fridge, it's now ready to eat as is but it will firm up nicely overnight. Once it's set I like to tip it onto a plate and cut chunks off like cheese. Will keep in the fridge for a while.

VEGAN BROWNIES WITH TAHINI AND HALVAH

Steps:

• Place dates in a medium heatproof bowl and pour boiling water on top to cover. Let soak until dates are softened, about 20 minutes, then drain well.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish with parchment paper; brush paper and sides of pan lightly with olive oil and set aside. Sift flour, cocoa powder and baking powder into a large bowl; whisk to combine and set aside.
• Place drained dates, almond milk, maple syrup, coconut sugar, tahini, vanilla, fine sea salt and 3/4 cup olive oil in a food processor; blend until smooth. Pour into the sifted flour mixture and whisk just until combined. Fold in the chopped chocolate and halvah. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and spread out in an even layer using an offset or rubber spatula. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds, then almonds.
• Bake until edges pull away from the sides of the dish and a toothpick comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and let cool completely. Refrigerate until cold and firm before cutting. Bring to room temperature before eating, or enjoy them cold, straight out of the fridge.

VEGAN SESAME HALVAH

Steps:

• Pour sesame seeds into a coffee grinder; grind into a fine, sticky powder, about 45 seconds.
• Pour sesame powder into a large bowl. Mix in pistachio nuts, honey dates, carob powder, and vanilla extract. Mix by hand until a stiff dough forms. Add water if dough is not forming properly. Press into a pan; slice into squares.

HALVAH

Steps:

• Line an 8- x 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
• Combine sugar, vanilla seeds and lemon zest with 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Allow mixture to simmer into a syrup, without stirring, until temperature registers 245 degrees on candy thermometer.
• While syrup is cooking, place tahini and salt in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle. Beat on medium speed. Carefully stream syrup into tahini with mixer running. Mix until syrup is incorporated and mixture begins to pull away from sides of bowl, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Be careful not to overmix. The halvah texture should be fudgelike, not sandy.
• Working quickly with a heatproof spatula, transfer mixture to the prepared pan. Place another piece of parchment on top and use your hands on top of the parchment to smooth out halvah. Cool completely to room temperature and cut into squares. Store at room temperature, well wrapped in plastic, for a week.