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Purim Recipes

Simsemiyeh - Sesame Candy

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

The Purim candy that is said to resemble Haman’s fleas.

by Dr. Yvette Alt Miller

Food 4 Thought

Flour symbolizes livelihood. When baking bread or desserts with flour, it’s a perfect time to thank God for the income you have and ask for help making wise financial choices. If you sift flour, you can contemplate the things you want to sift out of your life, such as petty thoughts and jealousies, habits that waste your time and hurtful gossip.Learn more about how different ingredients symbolize fundamental aspects of life.

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Sesame seeds are a popular ingredient on Purim, when they are said to symbolize “Haman’s fleas”. This is a classic Syrian Jewish candy.

IngredientsInstructions

Ingredients

Servings Pieces

1 cup sugar
½ cup sesame seeds
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Pinch ground cloves

Instructions

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts

Simsemiyeh - Sesame Candy

Amount per Serving

Calories

40

% Daily Value*

Fat

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

0.2

g

1

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

1

g

Monounsaturated Fat

0.5

g

Sodium

0.3

mg

0

%

Potassium

12

mg

0

%

Carbohydrates

7

g

2

%

Fiber

0.3

g

1

%

Sugar

7

g

8

%

Protein

0.4

g

1

%

Vitamin A

0.4

IU

0

%

Vitamin C

0.1

mg

0

%

Calcium

25

mg

3

%

Iron

0.4

mg

2

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Instructions

Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until the sugar is caramelized. Stir in the sesame seeds, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon juice, and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Pour the sesame mixture onto a wet, smooth work surface, or onto a greased baking sheet. Spread out to a thickness of 1 inch. Using a sharp knife, cut the mixture into diamond shapes or let it harden and then break into chunks.