flipSesame and Honey Balls for the Road
Sesame and Honey Balls for the Road
Why this dish? The Buddha spent his life walking from town to town to teach. Honey and sesame, rich and long-lasting, are tied to his legend: at Parileyyaka, retreating in the forest, an elephant and a monkey offered him honey and fruits. Compacted, these seeds become a concentrated provision for long walks between villages.
Small dense balls of toasted sesame seeds bound with honey and cane sugar — crunchy, deeply sweet and nutty, the snack that keeps for days in the fold of a robe.
The Path is walked, disciple, from village to village, and the road is long before the bowl fills again. Keep in a fold of your robe these sesame seeds bound with honey: an elephant once offered me its honey in the forest, and sesame nourishes the walker without weighing. One ball, and you hold until the next doorstep. Take little, share the rest: even the journey's provision is offered.
- •Sesame seeds — a good measure (toasted base)
- •Honey — enough to bind (sweet binder)
- •Cane sugar (jaggery) — a melted piece (firm binder)
- •Cardamom — a pinch (fragrance)
Sesame and Honey Balls for the Road
Small dense balls of toasted sesame seeds bound with honey and cane sugar — crunchy, deeply sweet and nutty, the snack that keeps for days in the fold of a robe.
Why this dish? The Buddha spent his life walking from town to town to teach. Honey and sesame, rich and long-lasting, are tied to his legend: at Parileyyaka, retreating in the forest, an elephant and a monkey offered him honey and fruits. Compacted, these seeds become a concentrated provision for long walks between villages.
The Path is walked, disciple, from village to village, and the road is long before the bowl fills again. Keep in a fold of your robe these sesame seeds bound with honey: an elephant once offered me its honey in the forest, and sesame nourishes the walker without weighing. One ball, and you hold until the next doorstep. Take little, share the rest: even the journey's provision is offered.
Ingredients (period version)
- Sesame seeds — a good measure (toasted base)
- Honey — enough to bind (sweet binder)
- Cane sugar (jaggery) — a melted piece (firm binder)
- Cardamom — a pinch (fragrance)
Ingredients
- Sesame seeds — 150 g (base)
- Jaggery (or whole cane sugar) — 100 g (firm binder)
- Honey — 2 tbsp (soft binder)
- Ground cardamom — 1/4 tsp (fragrance)
- Ghee — 1 tsp (prevents sticking)
Method
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant; set aside.
- In the same pan, melt the jaggery with the honey and ghee until you get an amber syrup (do not burn).
- Off the heat, add the sesame and cardamom, mix quickly.
- While the mixture is still warm but manageable (dip hands in cold water), form small tight balls.
- Let them harden and cool: they keep for several days.
How it was made : Sesame and honey are among the oldest sweets in India; sesame and jaggery confections (ancestors of til-laddu) accompanied journeys and festivals. Honey is among the five medicines allowed to monks even outside meal times.
The contemporary twist : Rolled in black sesame and presented as 'walking pearls', they make a perfect hiking snack.
Sources : Tradition of Madhu Purnima (offering of honey to the Buddha at Parileyyaka)
Buddha · Charactorium
