Poppy-Paste Pastries with Lentils
Thin, folded Afyon pastries filled with green lentils and onion, with olive oil and yellow poppy paste between the layers.
The Turkish pantry
Yellow Poppy-Seed Paste
Yellow poppy-seed paste is used in pastries and dough-based dishes. Its thick, finely ground texture spreads more easily when combined with the fat a recipe specifies.
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Sarı haşhaş ezmesi is a paste made from ground yellow poppy seeds. This ingredient means plain paste, without added sugar or a prepared pastry-fat mixture.
Types & forms
Plain yellow paste
A tan to golden-brown, finely grainy paste; color can vary between products.
Sweetened or mixed spreads
Products with sugar, added oil or other ingredients do not have the same composition as plain paste.
What to look for when buying
- Look for yellow poppy-seed paste and read the ingredient list. Choose plain ground seeds when the recipe adds its own fat.
- Do not select by color alone; check the named seed type and the package information.
Prepare & cook
- Stir the paste to make its consistency even, then combine it with the recipe's measured fat.
- Spread the mixture across the dough as directed. Whole poppy seeds do not form the same continuous pastry layer.
Store it well
- Keep the container closed and use a clean, dry utensil. Follow its specific storage and opening instructions.
Substitutions depend on the dish
Other plain poppy paste
Can make a household variation if the recipe permits, but color and flavor can differ between products.
Whole poppy seeds
A topping or separate ingredient; they cannot replace the ground paste in a layered dough.
Nutrition
Verified nutrition values for this exact product and prepared form are not available.
Cook with Yellow Poppy-Seed Paste