Tahini Halva (Halawa)
Tahini halva is a rich and nutty Middle Eastern sweet made with sesame paste and sugar, known for its crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s simple to make at home and perfect with tea or coffee.
Servings: 12
Instructions
- Place sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer until syrup hits 247 degrees F or about 8 minutes from the simmering start point.
- Place the tahini in a bowl and mix with ½ cup chopped pistachios.
- Add the syrup. Use a spatula to fold and combine the ingredients quickly. The mixture will start to solidify fast, so it’s important to work swiftly to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
- Transfer to a loaf pan with parchment paper and top with more pistachios. Lightly press the pistachios with excess parchment paper so they sink a bit into the mixture.
- Let it sit at room temperature for 2 hours and about 2 hour in the fridge. Slice and serve.
Video
Notes
Use High-Quality Tahini: Tahini is the star of the recipe, so make sure to use a high-quality, creamy, and well-mixed brand. Look for tahini made from 100% sesame seeds with no added oils or stabilizers. Freshly opened tahini provides the best texture and flavor.
Whisk Constantly While Adding the Syrup: Once the syrup reaches the right temperature, you need to add it gradually to the tahini mixture while whisking continuously. This step is essential as it helps distribute the syrup evenly throughout the tahini, preventing the mixture from solidifying too quickly in one area.
Mold and Set Properly: Transfer the mixture into a loaf pan lined with parchment paper and press down gently but firmly to create a solid block. This ensures the halva sets evenly without air pockets. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 3 hours before refrigerating. Refrigerating it for an hour ensures a firmer texture that slices cleanly.
Nutrition
Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 63IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 2mg