Pastéli, honey sesame bars
Small golden bars of toasted sesame set in caramelized honey: crunchy, energizing, unalterable. The direct ancestor of the cereal bar, already mentioned by the Greeks under the name "itrion."
Small golden bars of toasted sesame set in caramelized honey: crunchy, energizing, unalterable. The direct ancestor of the cereal bar, already mentioned by the Greeks under the name "itrion."
Twice a year I take the road: from the Underworld to the light, then from the light to the shadows. For the journey, nothing beats these sesame bars bound with honey—they fear neither the cold of Tartarus nor the heat of the Sicilian summer. My handmaidens pressed them between two warm leaves, and I carried them like a fragment of sun into the night. Crunch them as you walk, traveler, and you will never be quite hungry.
- •Sesame seeds — one measure (crunchy base)
- •Honey — half the volume of sesame (binder)
- •Thyme or oregano (optional) — a pinch (flavor)
Pastéli, honey sesame bars
Small golden bars of toasted sesame set in caramelized honey: crunchy, energizing, unalterable. The direct ancestor of the cereal bar, already mentioned by the Greeks under the name "itrion."
Why this dish? Twice a year, Persephone travels between the light of the world and the shadow of the Underworld. Pastéli—sesame bound with honey—is the Greek snack that keeps well and sustains travelers on long roads: the ideal treat for a goddess always on the move.
Twice a year I take the road: from the Underworld to the light, then from the light to the shadows. For the journey, nothing beats these sesame bars bound with honey—they fear neither the cold of Tartarus nor the heat of the Sicilian summer. My handmaidens pressed them between two warm leaves, and I carried them like a fragment of sun into the night. Crunch them as you walk, traveler, and you will never be quite hungry.
Ingredients (period version)
- Sesame seeds — one measure (crunchy base)
- Honey — half the volume of sesame (binder)
- Thyme or oregano (optional) — a pinch (flavor)
Ingredients
- Sesame seeds — 150 g (base)
- Honey — 120 g (binder)
- Lemon juice — a few drops (prevents crystallization)
- Black sesame (optional) — 1 tbsp (contrast)
Method
- Toast the sesame in a dry pan until golden and fragrant (watch it, it burns quickly).
- In a saucepan, heat the honey with lemon juice until it simmers and thickens slightly.
- Pour the hot sesame into the honey and stir vigorously for 1 minute.
- Spread the mixture on an oiled baking sheet into a thin layer, using a second sheet.
- Let cool for 5 minutes then pre-cut into bars; let harden completely before separating.
How it was made : Greeks already served "itria," thin sesame and honey cakes, even at wedding banquets. Sesame and honey keep for a very long time, so these treats accompanied soldiers and travelers—a true ancient road food.
The contemporary twist : Enriched with a few dried pomegranate seeds or a touch of fleur de sel, served as mignardises at the end of a meal.
Sources : Athenaeus of Naucratis, The Deipnosophists (itria) · Andrew Dalby, Siren Feasts (1996)
Persephone · Charactorium
