Halva (A Greek Sweet Using Semolina) |
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Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes |
Ready In: 20 Minutes Servings: 18 |
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This is a type of pudding, very popular here in Greece. Economical to make and tasty. Ingredients:
1 cup best quality olive oil (or you can use a combo of 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup corn oil or butter, anything totalling 1 cup) |
2 cups fine ground semolina |
1 cup chopped walnuts or 1/2 cup pine nuts |
2 cups sugar |
2 cups water |
2 cups milk |
coarsely ground walnuts or pine nuts, toasted |
sesame seeds, toasted (optional) |
cinnamon |
Directions:
1. Dissolve the sugar in the water and milk and bring it to a bare simmer.
2. Boil for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
3. At the same time, brown the semolina in the oil on medium-high heat, stirring continuously.
4. This should take 4-5 minutes. Add the nutmeats for the last 2-3 minutes to toast them slightly.
5. When the semolina has taken a golden brown colour, add the syrup to it (taking care not to burn your hands, as this bubbles and steams up excessively- be prepared!), turn down the heat and keep stirring until you get a kind of thick porridge. Continue cooking until the mixture is very thick and pulls away from the sides of the pan as you stir.
6. Spoon into a buttered or oiled bundt pan and pack down with the back of a spoon. Let it cool. (I use a silicone bundt pan for this - eliminates the need to grease, and my halvah comes out in a pretty pattern).
7. Unmold onto a platter and sprinkle with more walnuts, toasted sesame (optional) and cinnamon.
8. You should not put this dessert in the refrigerator.
9. It can keep for a few days outside the refrigerator, assuming you can gather enough will power not to eat it all at once.
10. Some oil may start to drain off after a day or so, but this is to be expected, just dab it away with some kitchen paper.
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