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5.0 from 12 votes

Middle Eastern Halva Recipe

This Middle Eastern halva recipe is nutty and sweet. It's made with sugar syrup, velvety tahini, spicy cardamom, and chopped pistachios.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Chill Time
1 d
Total Time
1 d 20 mins
Servings: 20
Calories: 182 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 ⅔ cups Tahini
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla (See Note 1)
  • ½ cup unsalted raw pistachios chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Coat a loaf pan with a nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment paper with a little overhang for easier lifting. Set aside.
  2. In a heat-proof bowl, combine the tahini and vanilla. Set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan over low heat, bring the sugar, cardamom and water to a simmer. Cook until sugar is completely dissolved, stir using wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
  4. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil. Continue to cook until the mixture reaches 250°F on a candy thermometer.
  5. Remove from heat, and slowly pour syrup into the bowl of tahini, stirring vigorously with spatula or a wooden spoon to thoroughly incorporate. Add pistachios, and stir to combine. Halva will turn glossy and thick.
  6. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top (See Note 2). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set (24 hours). Slice halva while cold, but serve at room temperature.

Notes

  • I often times use orange or rose water as a substitute for the vanilla extract.
  • You can use a 10-inch round dish, mini muffin pans or pour into a tub to mold the halva into desired shapes.

Nutrition Information

Calories 182kcal (9%) Carbohydrates 20g (7%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Sodium 7mg (0%) Potassium 115mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 15g (30%) Vitamin A 25IU (1%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 29mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 20Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 182

% Daily Value*

Calories 182kcal 9%
Carbohydrates 20g 7%
Protein 4g 8%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Potassium 115mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 15g 30%
Vitamin A 25IU 1%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 29mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.