Halva Recipe
published by chris73 on Aug 9, 2009
The word halva has Arabic roots and means “sweet”.It refers to many types of dense, sweet confections, across the Middle East, Central, South and Minor Asia, the Balkans, and the Jewish World. The one that follows is one of the most common types someone can find in Greece. Too easy to prepare and great with your coffee!
Ingredients
- 1/2 -3/4 cup of oil (You can use a combo of olive oil and corn oil or butter. For lighter taste use just corn oil)
- 2 cups ground semolina
- 2 1/2 or 3 cups of sugar
- 4 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
Method
- Brown the semolina in the oil on medium-high heat until it becomes golden brown by stirring continuously with a wooden dipper.
- At the same time, dissolve the sugar in the water, add the cinnamon stick and boil for 5 minutes.
- Add the syrup to the browned semolina. Important!!! Take care not to burn your hands, as this bubbles and steams up excessively- be careful!!!
- Turn down the heat and keep stirring until the mixture is very thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan as you stir.
- Cover the pan with a towel for about 10 minutes.
- Spoon into a buttered or oiled bundt pan or use a silicone bundt pan that doesn’t need buttering and pack down with the back of a spoon. Let it cool.
- Unmold onto a platter and sprinkle with walnuts, toasted sesame and cinnamon, or just cinnamon.
Do not keep the dessert in the refrigirator. Preserve it for some days in room temperature. After about a day some oil may start to drain off but this sould be expected.
# 1 by Francois Hagnere
August 9th, 2009 at 2:00 pm #
I love Halva, and when you begin eating it you can never stop…
Thank you my friend for sharing this recipe. I must give it a try!
Take care,
François
# 2 by deep blue
August 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm #
I dislike sweets but will definitely try it anyway so long as its from you. Great recipe man. Nope, I don’t argue about having you run marathons, lol. Have it your way.
Will
# 3 by Lauren Axelrod
August 9th, 2009 at 10:36 pm #
I have never had this before to tell you the truth, but I think I would enjoy it. I’m going to add this to my recipe roll at http://www.friendsrevolution.com
# 4 by Ruby Hawk
August 11th, 2009 at 4:25 pm #
Sounds good, a little like rice pudding which I love.
# 5 by Kate Smedley
August 19th, 2009 at 12:05 pm #
That’s different, but I like semolina so it’s worth a try! It looks tasty.
# 6 by Sonia Doreen
August 30th, 2009 at 2:27 pm #
I must admit I needed this, adding your page to may favorites, thanks for sharing Chris…