What is Halvah Sesame? How to make an Authentic Halvah Recipe

What is Halvah Sesame? 

Halvah (meaning sweet in Arabic) is a commonly found confectionary in West Asia and its surroundings. Halvah has a Persian origin and according to legends, the term halvah appeared in the 7th century which refers to a date and milk mixture. An Arabic book (Kitab-al Tabikh) from the 13th century documented many Persian halvah recipes. 

In recent times, sesame halvah is a popular sweet in the Balkans, the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, and many areas located around the Mediterranean Sea. 

The primary ingredient in sesame halvah is Tahini which is made from grounded toasted sesame seeds. Other ingredients include sugar or honey, soapwort, and egg whites. In some recipes, Vanilla extracts, pistachios, almonds, cocoa powder are also added to enhance the flavour!

If you're vegan and only want plant-based ingredients, download our free sesame vegan recipe pack.

Now, strap in and let's get straight into it!

How to Make an Authentic Halvah Recipe

The recipe which we are going to mention here is simple, easy to make and require some candy-making skills.

Ingredients:

• Honey (2 cups)
• Vanilla Extracts (1 teaspoon)
• Pistachios, almonds or any other combination of your favourite Nuts (1 ½)
• Tahini (2 cups, make sure to stir it until you have a smooth textured paste)

You would need a candy-making thermometer, and don’t forget to toast your nuts before adding to halvah! as its increase the texture, quality and taste.

How to Prepare:

• Gather all the ingredients; take a pan or x6 cup mould, grease either the pan or mould lightly with oil.
• Take a saucepan and add honey, put it on medium heat until you have the temperature at 115-degree Celcius (240F). Let it cool slightly then add Vanilla extracts and toasted nuts.
• Now slowly start adding Tahini to the honey mixture, and stir it until it’s well blended. Now pour this mixture into a greasy pan and let it cool.
• Next, cover the pan with clingfilm and put it in the refrigerator for at least 24-36 hours, so it can form a crystallised texture.
• After 24-36 hours, take out the halvah from the pan, slice it into smaller pieces and serve it at room temperature. 

You can keep your extra halvah in the refrigerator for several months!

Health Benefits

Sesame halvah has many proven health benefits. Generally, the health benefits of halvah come from the sesame seed itself. 

1. Rich in anti-oxidants

Sesame seeds are full of anti-oxidants and sesame oil is sometimes referred to as the 'Queen' of all oils. 

Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells against free radicals, which may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food or when you're exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation.

2. Reduces cholesterol

Sesame oil is enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids which are known to reduce bad cholesterol.  

According to the NHS here are the reasons why high cholesterol is bad for your health:[ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-cholesterol/ ]

• Too much cholesterol can block your blood vessels. It makes you more likely to have heart problems or a stroke.
• High cholesterol does not cause symptoms. You can only find out if you have it from a blood test.

3. Great source of nutrients and multivitamins

Sesame seeds are packed with good quality protein, fats, calcium, iron, including vitamins B1, B2, and E. These nutrients play an important role in replenishing the body's energy and muscle strength.

Conclusion

Sesame/halvah has excellent health benefits that help replenish your energy and vitality. Download our free vegan recipe pack for many healthy foods to add to a plant-based diet!

KODGAV is an ag-tech platform streamlining access to sustainable sesame seeds that are traceable from farm to fork. Check out our product page to find out more.