Semolina Halva

Semolina Halva
3.2/5 rating (58 votes)

  • Complexity: easy

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of thick semolina & 1 cup of thin semolina
  • 1 cup of sesame oil or olive oil
  • a small quantity cinnamon powder
  • walnuts or almonds (optional)
  • Syrup Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • pinch of cloves
  • 1 stick of cinnamon
  • 2 orange peels

Directions

  1. Heat a little bit of oil in a pot and roast the cinnamon powder and walnuts. Afterwards, add semolina and stir continuously until it turns golden.

  2. In another small pot, boil sugar in water for approximately 5 minutes until a light syrup has been formed. Afterwards, add the cinnamon stick, cloves, orange peels, and stir

  3. Finally, strain the syrup you prepared inside the pot with the roasted semolina. Keep stirring until the halva is completely released from the pot without sticking.

  4. Place the halva in a cake pan and let it cool. Remove it and add cinnamon as desired.

Tips

Halva is a confection that is served in different versions across the Mediterranean region, the Balkans, and the Middle East. In Greece – and especially in traditional homemade pastry-making – semolina halva is very common. 

Tip: Raisins are a great addition to halva. If the halva is not meant to be served as a fasting dish, you can create a buttery flavor by substituting a portion of the oil with fresh butter.