Sticky to the touch, sweet and a little bit sour, this is Qamar Eddeen or Kamar Eddeen paste. It is simply a thicker and stickier form of apricot paste.
Next try this recipe for Turkish delight.
Dried apricot paste or Amardeen is an iconic Ramadan item that is usually bought in packages and turned into juice or apricot pudding. Let's check how to easily make it at home with ingredients available in any nearby store.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- Very easy to make and way cheaper than the store-bought.
- No artificial ingredients.
- Because this is mad using dried apricot you can make it any time of the year, you do not need to wait for fresh apricot.
Apricot paste has a special place in my heart, it remind me of Ramadan days and how, as kids, we used to much on those before my mom got the time to turn them into the famous drink.
📝 Ingredients
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- Dried Apricots, pretty much sulphured are used but you can also use unsulphured.
- Water.
- Sugar.
- Lemon juice.
🥄 Instructions
- Chop apricots into small pieces.
- In a heavy sauce pan over medium heat add the dried apricot, water, sugar and lemon juice, stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to boil then reduce heat and continue to cook until the pieces are very tender. Turn heat off and let it cool down.
- Transfer apricot mixture to a blender and bled well until you get a spreadable paste. If you feel it is too thick add 1 Tbs of water at a time and blend.
- Spread the mixture on the parchment paper evenly, about ¼ to ⅓ inch thick. Bale in the oven for 4-5 hours until dry but still a bit sticky to the touch.
💡 Expert Tips
- If you use the unsulphured dry apricots, check out their sweetness and adjust the sugar in the recipe accordingly. Usually the sulphured varieties are less sugary.
- Spread the paste thinner to make apricot leather.
👩🍳 Variations
You can add orange blossom water or rosewater while making the paste to change the flavor.
🧺 Storage
Store homemade apricot paste in the fridge wrapped in parchment paper for up to 3 months.
📣 Related Recipes
- A thirst quenching and healthy drink, this homemade apricot juice is also known as amardeen drink. Simple to prepare especially with this homemade apricot paste.
- Another delicious to use this apricot paste is to make this apricot pudding very easy to make without any eggs.
- Kunafa is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that is made with a layer of golden shredded phyllo dough, a creamy filling, and a sweet syrup. A popular dessert in many countries that is often served during special occasions and holidays.
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Apricot paste (Amareddeen)
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried apricot
- 1 ¼ cups water
- ¼ - ⅓ cup sugar or to your liking
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat your oven to the lowest possible temperature, usually 200F.
- Chop apricots into small pieces.
- In a heavy sauce pan over medium heat add the dried apricot, water, sugar and lemon juice, stir well to combine. Bring the mixture to boil then reduce heat and continue to cook until the pieces are very tender. Turn heat off and let it cool down.
- Transfer apricot mixture to a blender and bled well until you get a spreadable paste. If you feel it is too thick add 1 Tbs of water at a time and blend.
- Spread the mixture on the parchment paper evenly, about ¼ to ⅓ inch thick. Bale in the oven for 4-5 hours until dry but still a bit sticky to the touch.
Notes
- If you use the unsulphured dry apricots, check out their sweetness and adjust the sugar in the recipe accordingly. Usually the sulphured varieties are less sugary.
- Spread the paste thinner to make apricot leather.
- Variations: You can add orange blossom water or rosewater while making the paste to change the flavor.
Nutrition
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First published Jul 4, 2014 . Last updated March 24, 2022 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.
Whenever the holly month of Ramadan is mentioned anywhere in the Middle East, Qamar Eddeen drink is the first thing to pop up in our minds. Cold and sweet drink that cools us down in this heat when we first break our fasting.
We also make a sweet Qamar Eddeen or apricot pudding with nuts that is so delicious. The base of this drink and the treat is the Aamar Eddeen or apricot paste.
The best Qamar Eddeen paste is usually made in Syria, it is the finest and most expensive one, but you can make it at home with simple ingredients. You can use fresh apricot fruit or use dried apricot as I did.
Beth Ann
I'm new to your page, but love apricot candies so wanted to start with the apricot paste! Thank you for the recipe and helpful hints!
Navin
what temperature should we bake this paste..
Amira
Nevin, that would be 200F, a very low temperature.
Deepti
Ramadan kareem! what a wonderful recipe this is.. surely a new and a great one.. my neighbor just loaded me with apricots. I will love to try this recipe!
Amira
This is a great opportunity for you to try it... If you wanna make roll ups just bake in a larger pan so they will be thinner like the roll up. Thank Deepti and Ramadan kareem 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods
I've never heard of this before. You teach me something new every time I visit 😀 It sounds delicious! I adore apricots. Do you use the paste to create the drink?
Amira
Yes we do ... Just cut it into small pieces and soak them in water for 3-4 hours then blend with more sugar if you like.