Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Simsimiyya

Simsimiyya is a classic Middle Eastern sesame brittle: toasty sesame seeds bound in a glossy sugar–honey syrup, brightened with lemon and perfumed with cardamom and rose water. Crisp, fragrant, and perfect with tea or coffee.

🇮🇶 Iraq$$

Surinamese Sesame Coconut Squares

Chewy-crisp Surinamese sesame coconut squares infused with fresh ginger, vanilla, and a hint of lime zest. A fragrant, toasty confection that balances nutty sesame with tropical coconut and bright citrus. Perfect for gifting, tea time, or an after-dinner sweet.

🇸🇷 Suriname$

Tandir Non

Tandir Non is a traditional Uzbek tandoor-baked bread, crisp on the outside with a tender, slightly tangy crumb from yogurt and milk. Topped with sesame and nigella seeds, it’s perfect alongside savory dishes or enjoyed on its own with tea.

🇹🇯 Tajikistan$

Jerusalem Bagel

A classic Jerusalem bagel: a large, oval, gently sweet sesame-crusted bread with a chewy interior and crisp, golden exterior. Perfect warm with olive oil, za’atar, or labneh.

🇮🇱 Israel$

Buchi Buchi

Classic Filipino Buchi Buchi: crisp, sesame-coated glutinous rice balls with a sweet mung bean or red bean paste center—chewy inside, golden and nutty outside.

🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands$

Navettes de Nouméa

Soft, slightly sweet sesame-topped milk bread rolls from New Caledonia—perfect on their own or as petite sandwich rolls.

🇳🇨 New Caledonia$

Kaaba

A rich, cube-styled black cocoa cake inspired by Middle Eastern flavors, built with medjool dates, tahini, honey, and black sesame. Moist, gently spiced, and finished with a silky cocoa glaze and toasted nuts for texture.

🇬🇲 Gambia$$

Botokoin au sésame

Botokoin au sésame is a Togolese-style sesame fritter: airy, lightly sweet yeast dough perfumed with nutmeg, fried until golden and rolled in toasted sesame seeds. Crisp outside and tender inside, it’s a comforting West African street snack.

🇹🇬 Togo$

Pineapple Sim Sim Mandazi

Golden East African mandazi scented with cardamom, enriched with coconut milk and pineapple, and sprinkled with sim sim (sesame) seeds. Lightly sweet, crisp outside and pillowy inside—perfect with chai or coffee.

🇺🇬 Uganda$$

Dulce de Ajonjolí

Dulce de Ajonjolí is a traditional sesame candy cooked with piloncillo and sugar in creamy coconut milk, perfumed with cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon zest. It sets into chewy, aromatic bites with a gentle nutty crunch and buttery finish.

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic$

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