N
Nira's World
๐ณ Recipe Card ยท Turkey
Episode ยท Turkey
Lokum
Soft, perfumed Turkish Delight dusted in icing sugar โ a sweet that's been made in Istanbul for over 500 years! Nira tasted every flavour in the Grand Bazaar.
Ingredients
The Lokum
1
2 cups granulated sugar
2
1ยฝ cups water, divided
3
ยฝ cup cornflour (cornstarch)
4
ยฝ tsp cream of tartar
5
1โ2 tsp rose water or orange blossom water
6
Pink food colouring optional
7
A few drops lemon juice
The Coating
1
ยฝ cup icing sugar
2
2 tbsp cornflour
How to Make It
1
Make sugar syrup. With a grown-up's help, dissolve sugar and lemon juice in 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to the boil and cook to 127ยฐC (hard ball stage) on a sugar thermometer โ about 8โ10 minutes. Set aside.
2
Make starch paste. In a separate saucepan, whisk cornflour and cream of tartar into ยฝ cup cold water until completely smooth.
3
Combine. Place starch saucepan on medium heat. Slowly pour in the hot sugar syrup, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
4
Cook low & slow. Stir on the lowest heat for 45โ60 minutes until the mixture becomes very thick, golden and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This takes patience!
5
Flavour & set. Stir in rose water and food colouring. Pour into a lightly oiled tin lined with cling film. Smooth the top. Leave to set at room temperature overnight โ do not refrigerate!
6
Cut & coat. Mix icing sugar and cornflour. Turn out lokum onto a board dusted with the coating mix. Cut into cubes with an oiled knife. Toss generously in the coating. Store in an airtight box.
Nira's Fun Fact
Lokum was invented in Istanbul around 1777 by a confectioner called Hacฤฑ Bekir. When a British traveller brought it back to England, it became known as "Turkish Delight". It became world-famous when C.S. Lewis used it as a magical sweet in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe!
๐ฃ๏ธ
Say it in Turkish!
"รok lezzetli!"
Very delicious! ยท (chok lezz-ET-lee)
Turkey