The nutty taste of the toasted sesame seeds (benne), a hint of sea salt, and the caramel sweet flavor from the coconut brown sugar sugar – a crunchy mélange of flavors in these easy to prepare treats… low in fat too!
A traditional southern recipe, the benne (the Bantu word for sesame) wafer perfectly represents the fine taste and heritage of the Charleston, South Carolina area. It is believed that enslaved Africans brought benne seeds to Colonial America sometime in the 17th century.
My version is lacy, crunchy and irresistible. Made without flour – only 6 tablespoons of an all purpose gluten-free flour in the batch, which yields 26 cookies.
Sesame seeds have a nutty, sweet aroma with a milk-like, buttery taste. When toasted, its flavor intensifies with a fabulous aroma.
Sesame seeds may be the oldest condiment known to man. They are highly valued for their oil which is exceptionally resistant to rancidity. “Open sesame”—the famous phrase from the Arabian Nights—reflects the distinguishing feature of the sesame seed pod, which bursts open when it reaches maturity.
These nutritious seeds are an excellent source of copper, a very good source of manganese, and a good source of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, molybdenum, vitamin B1, selenium, protein and dietary fiber.
An amazingly healthful food utilized for over 5,000 years, sesame may be one of the most potent, nutrient-dense medicinal foods still used today. Sesame seeds have a fabulous nutritional profile, granting their capabilities in fighting, preventing, and reversing illness and disease.
Coconut palm sugar ranks just 35 on the glycemic index, while regular table sugar ranks between 60 and 75. Foods high on the glycemic index cause your blood sugar to spike, which can lead to a sugar rush and subsequent crash. Fast spikes in blood sugar can also cause your insulin levels to soar in a short period of time, and this can have serious consequences for diabetics.
I’m constantly swapping coconut palm sugar for light and brown sugar in my recipes!
Enjoy these amazing treats … quite easy to prepare!
Karen
