Turkish Delight is a type of soft, chewy sweet made from syrup and cornflour, flavored with rosewater and dusted with confectioners’ sugar.
Turkish delight may contain nuts, such as pistachios or hazelnuts, or dates which are suspended within the gel-like structure. The Turkish name for Turkish Delight is Lokum which translates to morsel or mouthful.
Origin & Cultural Significance
The exact origin of Turkish delight is not known, but it is known to have been made in Turkey and Persia as early as the 18th century.
Traditionally, Turkish delight is flavored with rose, however today there are many different types available such as mint, lemon, coconut or vanilla.
Turkish delight is often served alongside tea or coffee, or at the end of a meal as a dessert.
Turkish Delight Recipe
Turkish Delight is a type of soft, chewy sweet made from syrup and cornflour, flavored with rosewater and dusted with confectioners’ sugar.
Ingredients
- Granulated sugar - 3 cups
- Water - 3 cups
- Cornstarch - 1 cup
- Cream of tartar - 1 tsp
- Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
- Rosewater - 1 tbsp
- Red food coloring - 1 tsp
- Confectioners’ sugar - 1 cup
Instructions
- In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to boil and add the granulated sugar. Stir until all of the sugar has dissolved.
- Add the lemon juice to the pan and continue to boil until the syrup reaches 240℉.
- In a separate pan, heat 1 cup of water and add the cornstarch and cream of tartar. Whisk to dissolve and ensure there are no lumps.
- Reduce the heat to low and continue to stir as the liquid thickens and becomes a paste.
- Carefully, add the hot sugar syrup to the cornstarch paste and whisk well to combine.
- On a low heat, continue to stir until the mixture turns golden-yellow.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the rosewater and food coloring.
- Pour the mixture into a lined tray and leave it to set overnight.
- Once set, slice into cubes and dust all sides with confectioner’s sugar.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 20 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 163Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 0gSugar: 35gProtein: 0g