Semolina halva - How to make semolina halva

Lebanese Recipes site invites you to try a delicious middle eastern sweet treat "Semolina halva". Learn how to make quick and easy semolina halva. A compote of dried fruits is wonderful alongside this dish. The pudding is also good served cold. It is very dense, so small portions are adequate.

Ingredients - Serves 8

1 cup coarse semolina
1/2 cup clarified butter
3 tbsp currants
4 tbsp toasted pine nuts
2 tbsp pistachios
1/4 cup candied orange peel

For the syrup

1 cup sugar
2 cups water
1 tsp ground cardamom
zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon
zest and juice of 1 orange
2 cinnamon sticks
1-2 tsps rosewater (depending on strength)

Method

To make the syrup
Place the sugar in a pan with the water, stir until dissolved and then add all the other ingredients. Strain and keep hot.

In a pan, brown the semolina in the butter, then add the strained syrup slowly and keep stirring for 10 minutes until the mixture comes away from the sides of the pan. Add the currants, pine nuts, pistachios and candied peel. Press firmly into a lightly buttered, 2-cup mould or into smaller individual moulds (half-fill buttered teacups or demitasse coffee cups) and unmould while hot onto a plate. Serve with lightly whipped, unsweetened cream and poached fruit.

Chef: Stephanie Alexander Photo: Marina Oliphant Source: The Age Tuesday October 19, 2004 Middle Eastern, 45 mins plus, Vegetarian, Kid-friendly, Dairy free, Egg free, Dessert