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Origin of Meni-Meniyong
The traditional menu-meniyong cookie is from Mali. The market in Mali is still the place to meet, do business, have a snack at a street stall, and, of course, do your daily shopping. These crunchy sweet sesame cookies can be found in every Mali market.
The traditional meniyong biscuit is usually this rectangular shape and is a popular treat after the shopping is done. Mali produces a lot of sesame seeds and it is one of the larger export products.
How To Prepare Meni-meniyong
These cookies are perfect to make last-minute for Easter. I cut them into rectangles but you can easily choose any shape you would like. You can even use little molds in the shape of an egg or a bunny!
Nowadays the honey in the recipe is often replaced by sugar, which makes the cookie cheaper. But you can taste the difference. Honey is simply much tastier.
The temperature of the caramel is important when you make meniyong. It must turn hard when it cools down. When you boil the honey mixture too long the biscuit becomes rock hard, but if you are impatient and you don’t boil it long enough you will end up with toffee instead of a cookie.
If you find your mini-meniyong cookie is not firm enough after cooling, you can simply let it melt again in the pan and leave it to boil for a little longer. But you can also just accept your fate.
Meni-meniyong Variations
- For a tasty coating that will keep fingers less sticky, roll the candy in more toasted sesame seeds to coat after cutting it into pieces.
Did you enjoy this article on How To Make Meni-meniyong cookies from Mali? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes that I picked out just for you:
I hope you’ll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, leave a comment below. Thanks for reading!
Meni-Meniyong
Ingredients
- Sesame seeds -1 cup
- Honey -1 cup
- Butter, unsalted -4 tablespoons
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450ºF. Spread the sesame seeds on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes.
- Remove and cool.
- Heat the honey and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until it bubbles and darkens somewhat, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Stir the toasted sesame seeds into honey mixture. Spread the mass onto a buttered baking sheet to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- Cool until it is just warm and break or cut into finger-sized pieces. Cool completely and serve.
