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Halva (Halawa Tahiniya)

Egyptian · Dessert

A dense, crumbly, and sweet North African confection made from toasted sesame tahini and powdered milk, often flavored with vanilla and studded with crunchy pistachios.

No cookVegetarianGluten free
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Halva (Halawa Tahiniya) — recipe cover
4 hr 15 minA little patience, a lot of flavor
Prep time15 min
Cook timeNo cook
Servings12 people
DifficultyEasy
Let's make something good

How to make it

6 steps. Take it one step at a time.

  1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and powdered milk

    In a large mixing bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and powdered milk to ensure there are no lumps.

  2. Add the vanilla extract

    Add the vanilla extract to the dry mixture, then gradually pour in the tahini.

  3. Mix the ingredients thoroughly

    Using a sturdy spatula or your hands, mix the ingredients thoroughly until a stiff, slightly crumbly dough forms that holds its shape when pressed.

  4. Line a rectangular container

    Line a rectangular container with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Scatter the pistachios across the bottom.

  5. Transfer the halva mixture

    Transfer the halva mixture into the container and press down very firmly with the back of a spoon to compact it. Smooth the top.

  6. Cover the container and refrigerate

    Cover the container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight, to allow the texture to firm up.

    4 hr

A little kitchen wisdom

Ensure the tahini is well-stirred before measuring to include the natural oils. For a vegan version, you can substitute the powdered milk with a plant-based alternative or use more tahini and sugar syrup.

What you'll need

Mixing bowlSifterRectangular containerPlastic wrap
Keep the good going

For now. And for later.

Make it ahead

Halva is best made at least 24 hours in advance to reach its peak crumbly texture.

Store & enjoy

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent the oils from separating. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Allergens

Contains milk, tree nuts, sesame.

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An AI-created recipe from the EZdish collection. Ingredient quantities and techniques have not been independently kitchen-tested. Published on this website . Updated . First published in the EZdish collection .

Halva (Halawa Tahiniya)
Step 1 of 6

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and powdered milk

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and powdered milk to ensure there are no lumps.