Homemade Pastila
5 servings
300 minutes
Homemade pastila is a delicate treat rooted in Russian culinary traditions. Originally made from fruit puree and honey, modern variations include an airy texture achieved through gelatin and egg whites. Its flavor is a harmony of sweetness, vanilla notes, and light airiness reminiscent of marshmallows but with a denser structure. Pastila is perfect as a standalone dessert or as an accompaniment to tea and coffee. With its softness and melting consistency, it suits cozy family evenings or festive treats. This recipe allows you to make a true classic of Russian cuisine at home, delighting loved ones with its gentle sweet taste and pleasant texture.
1
Dissolve gelatin in 0.5 cup of hot water and stir until fully dissolved. In a pot, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and half a cup of water over medium heat and cook for about 7 minutes while stirring. Once the sugar melts, turn off the heat and add the gelatin. Cool the mixture to room temperature.
- Gelatin: 30 g
- Water: 1 glass
- Sugar: 420 g
- Treacle (syrup): to taste
- Salt: 0.3 teaspoon
2
Whip the egg whites in a deep bowl, pour in all the liquid from the pot, and beat with a mixer on high speed. When the egg whites and gelatin mixture rise, add vanilla sugar and continue beating until the mixture is very thick.
- Egg white: 2 pieces
- Vanilla sugar: to taste
3
Then mix the starch and powdered sugar. Take a baking tray lined with parchment paper and greased with oil, and sprinkle it with the starch and powdered sugar mixture. Pour the mixture onto the tray and spread it evenly across the surface. Sprinkle the mixture with the starch and powdered sugar, and without covering or refrigerating, let it rest for at least 3-4 hours.
- Potato starch: 25 g
- Vanilla icing sugar: to taste
4
Use cookie cutters or a sharp knife to create the desired shapes from the ready-made pastille.