SAEDNEWS: Dehin halva is a very delicious and nutritious sweet that originates from the city of Najaf in Iraq. If you have traveled to Karbala and Najaf, you have certainly seen trays of dehin displayed in various corners of the traditional markets of these cities.
According to the Saed News Cooking Service, Dehin Halva is a highly nutritious and beneficial dessert made with flour, sugar, milk, olive oil, coconut, and date syrup. It can be a delicious dessert during the cold months of the year as well as during the holy month of Ramadan.
If you’re interested in making this tasty halva, stay with me as we go through the recipe below.
Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
Flour | 2 cups |
Sugar | 1½ cups |
Full-fat milk | 1 cup |
Liquid oil | 1 cup |
Butter | 30 g |
Desiccated coconut | 1 cup |
Cardamom powder | ½ teaspoon |
Date or grape syrup | ½ cup |
Brewed saffron | 1–2 tablespoons |
Rosewater | 2 tablespoons |
Chopped walnuts | ½ cup (optional) |
Slivered almonds or pistachios | For garnish |
To prepare this delicious halva, first pour the milk, sugar, and liquid oil into a saucepan and place it over low heat. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Once the sugar has dissolved, add the rosewater and saffron and stir well. Let the mixture come to a gentle boil.
Add the flour and cardamom powder and whisk thoroughly with a hand whisk until smooth and lump-free. Stir over heat for about 5 minutes. (The consistency will be slightly thicker than rice pudding.)
Now add the date or grape syrup and butter, and mix well. Remove from heat and beat the halva with an electric mixer for 1–2 minutes until it becomes stretchy and smooth. (Using an electric mixer is optional.) Finally, add the chopped walnuts and combine.
Grease your desired mold with a little butter or solid oil. Spread half of the desiccated coconut evenly on the bottom of the mold, then pour in the halva mixture and smooth the surface with the back of a spoon.
Sprinkle the remaining coconut on top and garnish with slivered pistachios or almonds.
Bake the halva in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F) for 30 minutes. During the last 2–3 minutes, turn on the grill setting to give the top a golden color.
Remove from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. Once it has cooled, cut into your desired shapes.
Your delicious Iraqi Dehin Halva is ready—enjoy!
