This recipe is inspired by a traditional Arab sweet that I adore, made from dried apricots and pistachios. Many of the sweets in Mexico have Arab influences due to the fact that Arabs occupied Spain for more than seven centuries. The Spanish in turn colonized Mexico, bringing some of those Arabic influences with them.

　　

Ingredients

serves 6 to 8

　　2 cups water

　　1 1/2 cups sugar

　　1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

　　1 cup unsulfured dried apricots

　　Juice of 1 small lime

　　Shaved ice

　　1/2 cup toasted pistachios, coarsely chopped

　　

Step 1

Combine the water and sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar has dissolved. If using a vanilla bean, scrape the seeds into the syrup, then add the pod. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes, then let cool completely. If using vanilla extract, stir it in at this point.

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, put the apricots in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Let cool for 10 minutes, then drain the apricots.

　　

Step 3

Discard the vanilla bean pod. Put the syrup, half of the apricots, and the lime juice in a blender and blend until smooth. Refrigerate until completely chilled. Coarsely chop the rest of the apricots.

　　

Step 4

For each serving, mound about 1 cup of shaved ice in a serving dish. Drizzle 6 to 8 tablespoons of the apricot syrup over the ice, and scatter 1 tablespoon chopped apricots and 1 tablespoon pistachios over the top. Serve immediately.

　　Reprinted with permission from Paletas, Authentic Recipes For Mexican Ice Pops, Shaved Ice, & Aguas Frescas, copyright © 2011. Published by Ten Speed Press, a division of Random House, Inc. As the country's most authoritative voice on Mexican sweets, FANY GERSON has been featured in the New York Times, Gourmet, Fine Cooking, Daily Candy, Village Voice, NY Daily News, Time Out magazine, and New York magazine, among other publications. She recently launched the acclaimed La Newyorkina, a Mexican frozen treats and sweets business that began with her love for paletas. A graduate of the culinary Institute of America, Fany has worked in a range of fine-dining kitchens around the world. Visit www.lanewyorkina.com for more information.