Turkish Delight (Sade Türk Lokumu)

This is probably the most famous Turkish sweet and one of the most appreciated all over the world.

1 kg sugar * ½ liter water * 1 tbsp lemon juice * 1 cup corn starch (100 g) * 25 ml water * 2 g cream of tartar * some almond oil

To garnish:

50 g corn starch * 1 cup powder sugar

Place the sugar in a pan with ½ liter water. Bring it to boil over low fire and add the lemon juice. Keep on low fire and let it boil slowly. Dissolve the corn starch in 25 ml of water. Add slowly to the sugar syrup. Then, add the cream of tartar and mix. Keep the mixture on fire until you get a thick paste. Grease a rectangular tray with almond oil. Pour the mixture in it and let it cool down. Mix the corn starch with the sugar and sparkle the lokum with it. Grease a knife with almond oil and cut the lokum. First cut into slices, with the thickness of two fingers, and then in cubes. Then put each cube on the corn starch and sugar mixture in order to be very well sparkled. The Turkish delight is ready to be served.

In Turkey the cream of tartar can be found in patisseries and in herbalists (Lokman Hekim). If you can’t find the cream of tartar, I read here that it can be replaced by lemon juice or vinegar, in the amount three times superior of the one specified for the cream of tartar. This ingredient is very important, because it will give the gum consistency to the lokum.
I know many people love this delight and is anxious to try. I am waiting for your comments.
I will publish more lokum recipes soon.