Tespixhe is a traditional Balkan dessert made from dense dough with nuts, soaked in sweet syrup. For many Albanians, it is a taste of home.
The base of tespixhe is a simple dough into which chopped walnuts are mixed. The dough is then cooked in a pot for a few minutes and left to cool. The prepared dough is spread into a greased or parchment-lined baking dish. The surface is cut with a knife into small squares or diamonds, making the finished dessert easy to portion. This prepared dough is then baked in the oven until golden brown.
Meanwhile, the syrup, which is typical for this dessert, is prepared. Just simmer water with sugar in a pot, add slices of lemon and a bit of vanilla extract. The syrup is allowed to bubble gently for a few minutes to reach the right consistency, then left to cool. Once the tespixhe is baked, while still hot, it is poured over with half of the syrup. After that, it is returned to the oven for a short time so the syrup can soak in beautifully. Finally, the tespixhe is taken out and evenly poured over with the remaining syrup. It is allowed to cool completely at room temperature so that the dough absorbs all the sweet syrup and achieves its typical moistness.
Tespixhe is a dessert that tastes best after it has completely cooled, when it is beautifully soaked with syrup and all the flavors blend into a harmonious whole.
I tasted tespixhe at a small pastry shop called Arishta Bakery (see Where to Eat in Albania), where one piece cost 150 ALL (1.50 EUR).
Bon appétit!
