A sweet, satisfying lump of delicious goodness, you can't help but feel as though you're taking a bite of some divine, pink nectar-jelly when you eat these rose and strawberry lokum bites. It's also surprisingly easy to make!
Recipe:
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 1/4 cups corn starch
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
- 3 cups of water
- 3-4 strawberries, diced
- 1-2 tbsp. rose water
How To:
- Combine the sugar, 1 1/2 cups of water and the lemon over medium to high heat. Allow the mixture to come to a boil. Once it reaches 245F or 118C, remove from the heat and set aside. A good way to test it is by taking a small amount out with a spoon, allowing to cool and then touching it to see if it becomes slightly sticky like wet glue.
- In the meantime, mix the cream of tartar with the cornflour and add to a separate pan along with 3 cups of water. Whisk throughout to avoid lumps. The mixture can thicken fast so don't leave it unattended. It is ready when it becomes like a thick paste.
- Add the chopped strawberries to a small bowl with a splash of water and place on the microwave or on a stove for around 20-30 seconds until they go very soft. Sieve the berries so you obtain the red juice. Return the berry pulp to Mother Nature or discard it in a bin.
- Slowly add the syrup to the cornflour paste and mix. Add a little at a time and keep mixing to avoid hard clumps.
- Add the rosewater, strawberry puree and whisk on low heat for another 35-45 mins until it becomes a super thick consistency, between a dough and a very thick paste.
- Spoon into your greaseproof paper-lined tub of choice and allow to set overnight.
- The next day, remove from the fridge, slice into cubes and dust in icing sugar.
Lokum dates back centuries and is most commonly associated with Turkey, while very similar Greece and ancient Persian recipes have also been recorded!
So, why not indulge yourself in some delightful lokum bites? Remember that you can always infuse any flavour you wish so don't forget to get creative! Enjoy.