Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350° F (175° C).

Step 2

In a food processor, pulse the chocolate wafers until finely ground. Make sure there aren’t any large pieces.

Step 3

Combine with the melted butter, Turkish coffee, and salt.

Step 4

Press the mixture into a 9-inch pie/tart pan with removable bottom. Pack it tightly! I use a measuring cup to press it into the sides. It helps create a nice shell.

Step 5

Place the shell in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Step 6

Bake on a sheet pan for 10 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature and place it in the fridge until you’re ready to fill it.

Step 7

Place the 2 cups of heavy cream and the cream of tartar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with whisk attachment.

Step 8

Whisk the cream on medium at first and then up to high until medium peaks form. Don’t over-whip the cream!

Step 9

Transfer the whipped cream into a different bowl. Change to a paddle attachment on the mixer—no need to clean the bowl!

Step 10

Place the sesame paste, powdered sugar, vanilla bean paste, and salt in the mixer bowl. On low, mix until it starts to come together.

Step 11

While the mixer is running, SLOWLY drizzle in the heavy cream (1/4 cup). If you do this too quickly, or if the mixer is on too high, the mixture will separate! It will be pretty difficult to bring it back together, so make sure you do this slowly!

Step 12

Fold in, by hand, 1/3 of the whipped cream mixture into the sesame mixture. Be a bit aggressive with this first addition to lighten the sesame mixture.

Step 13

Once almost combined, add an additional 1/3 of whipped cream to the mixture and continue folding, gently this time.

Step 14

Add the remaining 1/3 and fold until JUST COMBINED. Streaks of white are okay!

Step 15

Take the shell out of the fridge and carefully pop it out of its pan, setting it on your serving plate.

Step 16

Break up half of the halva with a fork and scatter evenly along the bottom. Top with the mousse mixture and spread it over the halva.

Step 17

Set the pie in the fridge for at least 4 hours to set.

Step 18

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and Maldon salt. Slice, garnish with more halva, drizzle some silan over the top, and enjoy! This pie will keep, refrigerated, for up to 2 days.