Turkish dessert Kabak Tatlisi: a step-by-step recipe with photos for home cooking

Sweet Gummy Pumpkin Kabak Tatlisi This pumpkin dessert will become a favorite treat for the whole family! Using this classic step-by-step recipe with detailed descriptions and photos, you can easily make this traditional Turkish pumpkin dessert at home.

Turkish Pumpkin Dessert: A Classic Step-by-Step Recipe

Nutritional value per serving

109.6 kcal

Proteins: 0.9 g
Fats: 0.1 g
Carbohydrates: 26.4 g

*Nutritional value is calculated per 100g of ingredients

Total time: 4 hours
Time in the kitchen: 2 hours
Complexity:

A simple recipe.
Number of servings: 4

Tatlısı kabak is a sweet and aromatic Turkish pumpkin in sugar syrup, the flavor of which is formed by a classic bouquet of lemon and spices, as well as chopped walnuts.

The dish tastes like soft, undried candied pumpkin with a sophisticated spicy note, but much easier and faster to prepare.

Marmalade pumpkin can be eaten during Lent and offered to children as a healthy natural treat, an excellent substitute for candy.

Even a novice cook can prepare this incredibly delicious and healthy Turkish pumpkin dessert at home, as it only requires four ingredients (zucchini, sugar, spices, and nuts), and the entire cooking process takes about four hours.

A simple recipe for the Turkish dessert Kabak Tatlisi

Turkish-Style Gummy Pumpkin – A Detailed Step-by-Step Recipe with Photos

Ingredients

Servings

Pumpkin

1 kg
Sugar

500 G
Walnuts

100 G
Cardamom

as desired
Star anise

as desired
Cinnamon

as desired
Lemon

as desired

Preparation

Step 1

We begin preparing the dessert by washing and peeling the pumpkin, removing the skin and seeds.

For Kabak Tatlysy, it's best to use sweet, firm pumpkin. We've used butternut squash in our recipe, but you can use any variety.

Step 2

Cut the prepared pumpkin into pieces.

We'll be making fairly large portions. You can cut the mixture into smaller cubes if you prefer.

Step 3

Place the pumpkin in a saucepan with a thick bottom and add 500 grams of sugar.

Step 4

Add your favorite oriental spices (in the photo we are making the classic version with cardamom).

The dish can be prepared with banyan, anise, cloves, cinnamon, or citrus peels (lemon or orange will do). Each flavor will impart its own distinctive aroma and flavor, so experiment and find the perfect combination of oriental flair and personal preference.

Step 5

Cut a circle out of parchment paper to fit the diameter of the pan and cover the pumpkin for at least 2 hours to release the juices.

The time it takes depends on the type of pumpkin you're using. You can even sprinkle the pieces with sugar the night before and then continue cooking in the morning, giving the pumpkin more time to develop its juices.

Step 6

When the pumpkin has released enough liquid, place the pan on the stove over low heat and gradually bring to a boil without removing the parchment (no need to cover with a lid to prevent excess moisture from forming).

Step 7

Simmer the pumpkin over low heat for 1 hour. Then remove the pan from the stove and let the pumpkin cool naturally, continuing to soak in the sweet syrup under the protection of the parchment paper.

Step 8

Pre-roast the nuts in the oven at 170℃ (until golden brown and a characteristic aroma appears) and chop.

You can also dry the nuts in a frying pan. The size of the nuts can vary depending on your preference. Some people sprinkle large walnuts over their gummy pumpkin, while others prefer the finest possible grain.

Place the Turkish-style pumpkin pieces on a plate and sprinkle with nuts.

Don't throw away the thick pumpkin syrup in which the zucchini pieces were cooked. It can be collected and used as a sweet addition to pancakes, fritters, or syrniki.

Marmalade pumpkin is served as a standalone dish. It's believed that this Turkish pumpkin dessert is ideally complemented by heavy cream (kaymak) or runny halva (tahini).

If you like to modernize recipes, we suggest trying sweet Turkish pumpkin desserts by adding pekmez, citrus peel, or juice during the cooking process.

Turkish-style pumpkin baked in the oven is equally delicious. We suggest trying one of the variations of this sweet treat, following the step-by-step recipes in the video: