Use a natural, tart variety of dried apricots, not the sweetened or honeyed ones; they must also be soft. These keep well for weeks and are good to serve with coffee.

　　

Ingredients

makes about 50

　　1 pound dried apricots

　　Confectioners’ sugar

　　About 25 shelled pistachios to decorate

　　

Step 1

Do not soak or wash the apricots, or you will produce a cream. Put them as they are in the food processor and blend them to a smooth paste, adding a very little water, by the teaspoon if necessary. Wash your hands and, wetting them or greasing them with a little oil so that the paste does not stick, take little lumps of paste and roll into marble-sized balls. Roll them in confectioners’ sugar and press half a pistachio on the top of each.

　　

Variations

Step 2

Mix 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pistachios with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Make a small hole in the center of each apricot ball, put in a little of the filling, close the hole again, and roll in confectioners’ sugar.

　　

Step 3

Work 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pistachios into the apricot paste with your hands.

　　The New Book of Middle Eastern Food Copyright © 2000Knopf