In Jewish communities from Greece and Turkey, Purim is celebrated by eating wicked Haman's "fingers”. These fingers are similar to Moroccan cigars but made with sweet crushed nuts for a dessert cigar. Here's a recipe for this rich pastry.
Ingredients
Servings 30 Fingers
- 1 ½ cups almonds
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon grated orange rind
- 6-8 tablespoons butter or vegan butter melted
- ½ pound phyllo dough defrosted
- Powdered sugar or honey
Nutritional Facts
Nutrition Facts
Haman’s Fingers
Amount per Serving
Calories
89
% Daily Value*
Fat
6
g
9
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
3
g
Cholesterol
6
mg
2
%
Sodium
55
mg
2
%
Potassium
59
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
7
g
2
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
71
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
0.1
mg
0
%
Calcium
22
mg
2
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Instructions
- Chop almonds with sugar in food processor until coarse. Stir in cinnamon and grated orange rind.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Remove phyllo sheets from their package and unroll them on a dry towel. With a sharp knife, cut stack in half lengthwise, then in half crosswise. Cover phyllo immediately with a piece of parchment paper, then with a damp towel. Work with only 1 sheet at a time, keeping remaining sheets covered so they don't dry out.
- Carefully remove one pastry square from stack. Brush it lightly with melted butter. Put about 2 teaspoons filling at one end of a phyllo square so it extends all along edge. Fold the two ends of dough in, slightly over filling, then roll up tightly to form a thin finger.
- Transfer to a baking sheet. Make more phyllo fingers with remaining dough and filling.
- Bake pastries 15-20 minutes or until very lightly golden. Transfer to a rack to cool. Serve dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with honey.
Notes
Recipe excerpted from 1,000 Jewish Recipes by Faye Levy (IDG Books 2000).
