Watch Joumana Accad of TasteofBeirut.com:
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Amardeen is the name given to a large sheet of apricot paste. Amardeen has a tangy, sweet and intense apricot flavor. It is diluted in water, made into a drink or pudding or just eaten in chunks.
For a quart-sized pitcher:
Dilute 500 g (about 1 package or 1 pound) of amardeen in four cups of water overnight. The next day, pour one cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the water. Cool and set aside. Place 2 ounces of nuts (pistachios, pine nuts) in a bowl filled with water for at least one hour.
In a blender, pour the amardeen and water mixture and the syrup and process until smooth; taste for desired sweetness. Serve the drink in cups and garnish with a few pine nuts and peeled pistachios or almonds or walnuts, if desired.
NOTE: One can add a teaspoon of rose water to this drink if desired.