How to cook Persian Sohan asali?

Sohan asali is definitely a great symbol of the Persian new year. It is one of the essential parts of Nowruz table and is beloved by every Persian. Sohan asali is simply made of honey, sugar, saffron, almond, pistachios, and other nuts. This delicious saffron caramel has a crunchy texture, and aside from Nowruz foods, it can be cooked at home throughout the year. Because it perfectly matches with Persian tea and is a wonderful choice for evening gatherings. Here is a straightforward Sohan asali recipe you can follow and prepare this tasty candy for your family members.

Ingredients for making Sohan asali

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp. honey
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1 tsp saffron
• 1/2 cup almonds, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup pistachios, roughly chopped
• 1/2 tbsp. rosewater

Sohan asali recipe

1. Line 2 trays with baking paper and set aside.
2. In a deep saucepan, add sugar, butter, and honey, and place them on medium heat. Stir regularly, and wait until the sugar is completely dissolved. 
3. It takes about 5-7 minutes for the sugar to be dissolved and for the color to turn into brown. Do not let it darken too much as it will get bitter.
4. Add the almonds and pistachios, and stir gently. 
5. After around 5 minutes, the mixture is almost golden brown and starts bubbling. Now add rosewater and saffron.
6. Let the mixture cook for one more minute, then turn off the heat. 
7. Pour one spoon of Sohan asali liquid on the baking paper. If the liquid solidifies quickly, do it for the rest of the mixture. Each serving of Sohan assali should be one inch per side.
8. Let the pieces of Sohan asali cool for about one hour. Then they are ready to eat. Bon appetite! 

Notes:

• You can substitute almond and pistachio with other nuts such as walnut, peanut, or even sesame.
• Rosewater is usually available in Middle Eastern supermarkets.
• You can freeze Sohan asali and use it whenever you desire.

I recommend you to try this recipe at home and enjoy its unique taste and aroma. Please let me know about the result of your cooking in the comments below.

If you are a fan of Persian sweets, check out other recipes in cooking county!