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Sesame Snaps - 'Simsim' Recipe | Sesame Seeds Ugandan Snack

Sesame Snaps, AKA Alawa, is a delicacy that we all enjoy as a family. I got to know about them because, the Nubians in Uganda used to make and sell them and, we enjoyed eating them. As the Acholi's used to mix freely with them, somehow we started learning how to make or cook certain foods like them. I don't actually recall who taught me how to, but most likely my big sisters.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 0 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Snack
Cuisine: East African
Ingredients Equipment Method Video

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Roasted sesame seeds
  • 4 tbsp Sugar
  • ½ tsp salt

Equipment

  • 2 Saucepans
  • 1 Wooden spatula
  • 1 Tray
  • 1 Fish slice
  • 1 Knife

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Grease the tray
  2. Roast/Fry the sesame/simsim first with salt for about 10 minutes
    See Video on How to Fry Sesame Seeds Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IctG5uo211U
Making The Sesame Snaps
  1. Add sugar in the pan and allow it caramelise for about 3 minutes
  2. Mix it constantly with wooden spoon until the caramel turns golden
  3. Add sesame and mix is fast until it clamps together
  4. Scoop it out onto a large tray, spread out and pat in down quickly with a fish slice
  5. Cut them into desired shapes
  6. Allow it to cool down for 5 minutes, before serving especially to children