Do it like yiayia: Semolina Halva
The greek take on the beloved middle-eastern confectionary
Greek semolina halva is a traditional Greek dessert, which is very popular during the Orthodox Great Lent. It’s dairy-free, butter-free and egg-free, so it can win over even the pickiest of eaters.
Level of Difficulty: 3/5
Preparation time: about 2 hours
Ingredients
• 1 cup olive oil
• 2 cups of coarse semolina
• 3 cups of sugar
• 4 cups of water
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cinnamon stick
• zest of 1 lemon
Preparation
Firstly, prepare the syrup. Add the sugar, the water, the cinnamon stick and the zest of the lemon into a pan over high heat and bring to the boil. Boil until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup has slightly thickened. Set aside and keep it warm.
For the semolina Halva, heat the oil in a large pot and gradually add the semolina. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon to allow the semolina to absorb the oil.
When the semolina starts to bubble, turn the heat down and, whilst constantly stirring, allow the semolina to toast until golden (be careful not to over toast it because it will burn, and the halva will taste bitter).
Remove the pot from the stove and slowly pour in the warm syrup (don’t forget to remove the cinnamon stick). Stir with a wooden spoon and return the pot on the stove.
Add the ground cinnamon. Cook the halva (whilst stirring) until the mixture thickens and doesn’t stick much to the sides of the pan.
Remove the pot from the stove, cover the halva with a towel and let it rest for 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a pudding mold or into individual bowls.
Allow the halva to cool for about 1,5 hours before serving. Garnish with cinnamon powder, almonds, or crushed walnuts.
Bon appétit!
When talking about famous international cuisines, Greek food always makes it on the list. Greek cuisine is founded on the triad of wheat, olive oil, and wine. It incorporates olive oil, vegetables, grains, meat and fish. Common dessert ingredients include nuts, honey, fruits, and filo pastries. It continues traditions from Ancient Greek and Byzantine cuisine, while incorporating Balkan and Italian influences.
From Moussaka and Spanakopita to Pastitsio and Tzatziki, the Greek cuisine includes a variety of traditional dishes that not only do they taste amazing, but are also extremely healthy for you, since their ingredients consist mainly of whole foods. It doesn’t mater if you are a skilled chef or simply a home cook, recipes of the Greek cuisine should definitely be incorporated into your main diet.