CRUNCHY TAHINI ROLLS – TAHİNLİ ÇITIR KURABİYE

Here’s an irresistible cookie made with phyllo dough. It is similar to baklava rolls, yet worlds apart in taste for it has no syrup. It is crunchy, and melts in your mouth. I can’t say it is a traditional recipe. This cookie recipe evolved only after thin baklava dough (phyllo) became commercially available and it is a winner! Tahini, walnuts and butter certainly gives it a familiar Turkish, Middle Eastern taste. Easy to make too. Enjoy! 

Ingredients: 

• 6 sheets of phyllo dough
• 1 stick (8 Table spoons) of unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup tahini (sesame paste)
• 1 cup of walnuts, ground
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup powdered sugar for garnish (optional)
• 2 Table spoons pistachios, finely ground (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Take a sheet of phyllo dough. Using a brush, spread melted butter over the phyllo sheet.
3. Place another phyllo sheet on top of the first one, drizzle about 2 table spoons of tahini on it. Using a brush, spread tahini evenly on the surface of the phyllo sheet.
4. Sprinkle about 2 table spoons of sugar over the tahini covered sheet.
5. Sprinkle about 2 heaping table spoons of ground walnuts over the phyllo sheets.
6. Starting on the long end, gently roll it. 
7. Brush melted butter over the long pastry roll. Cut the roll into 1 inch pieces. You can cut them straight or at an angle. 
8. Place the cut pieces on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Repeat steps 2-8 until you use all of the phyllo sheets (2 more rolls).
10. Bake at 350 for about 20-25 minutes until the pastry rolls are golden brown.
11. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. 
12. Sift powdered sugar over the rolls (optional). Sprinkle with ground pistachios (optional). Serve them warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

• You can use ground hazelnuts instead of walnuts.
• You can add some cinnamon to ground walnuts.
• For vegan version, avocado oil can be used instead of butter. 

AFIYET OLSUN!
BON APPETIT!

Ingredients

Spread butter on phyllo with a brush

Drizzle tahini and brush it on the phyllo

Sprinkle sugar

Sprinkle walnuts

Start rolling on the long edge of the phyllo

Brush butter on top

Cut into 1 inch pieces

Fresh out of the oven

Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving

Crunchy tahini rolls