Turkish Delight

Ingredients

• 4 cups of sugar

• 1.5 cups of water

• 1.5 cups of cornstarch

• 1.5 cups of cold water1 tablespoon of lemon juice1 tablespoon of rose water (which can be adjusted according to personal taste)

• Food coloring (optional, used to add colors to the Turkish Delight)

• Powdered sugar and cornstarch (used for dusting and preventing sticking)

• Nuts (such as chopped pistachios, optional, used for adding into the Turkish Delight or as decoration)

• Tea seasoning: 3- 5g

Instructions

1. In a large pot, combine 4 cups of sugar and 1.5 cups of water over medium heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved.

2. Stop stirring, turn the heat to medium-high, and let the syrup boil until it reaches 240°F (115°C), which can be measured using a syrup thermometer. This step usually takes 10 - 15 minutes.

3. In another pot, combine 1.5 cups of cornstarch and 1.5 cups of cold water, stirring to combine, making sure there are no lumps.

4. Heat the cornstarch paste over low heat, stirring constantly, until it becomes thick, clear, and has a pudding-like texture. This step usually takes 5 - 7 minutes.

5. When the syrup reaches 240°F (115°C), slowly pour the hot syrup into the cornstarch paste, stirring quickly with a wooden spoon. Be careful to pour slowly to prevent splashing.

6. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of rose water and continue to stir to combine. If you want to make different colors of fudge, you can divide the batter into several portions at this step and add different colors of food coloring to each portion.

7. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 20-30 minutes, until the fudge becomes very thick and difficult to stir. The fudge will start to pull away from the sides of the pan.

8. Sprinkle a square or rectangular baking pan with a mixture of powdered sugar and cornstarch (1:1 ratio) to prevent the fudge from sticking.

9. Pour the cooked fudge into the baking pan and smooth the surface with a spatula. If using chopped nuts, sprinkle them evenly on the surface of the fudge at this step and press gently.

10. Let the fudge cool at room temperature for at least 4-6 hours until it is completely set.

11. Sprinkle the mixture of powdered sugar, tea seasoning, and cornstarch on a cutting board and turn the set fudge upside down on the cutting board.

12. Use a sharp knife to cut the fondant into small squares or rectangles, sprinkling some powder on the knife from time to time while cutting to prevent sticking.

13. Roll the cut fondant in a mixture of powdered sugar and cornstarch to coat each piece of fondant with powder to prevent sticking.

14. Store the Turkish Delight in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks.