Halwa Bahraini

Translucent saffron and cornstarch sweet studded with nuts.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups Cornstarch
• 3 cups Sugar
• 1 cup Ghee
• 1 tsp Saffron
• 1 tbsp Cardamom
• 2 tbsp Rose water
• ½ cup Almonds
• ½ cup Pistachios
• 6 cups Water

Method

1. Make the slurry — Whisk the cornstarch into cold water until completely smooth.
2. Make the syrup — Boil the sugar with the remaining water until slightly thickened.
3. Combine — Pour the slurry into the syrup while stirring hard, and keep stirring.
4. Cook long — Stir constantly for 45 minutes as it turns from cloudy to translucent — this is the whole craft of Bahraini halwa.
5. Add ghee gradually — Work the ghee in a spoonful at a time until it glosses.
6. Halwa is ready — Add saffron, cardamom, rose water and nuts, pour into a dish, and cool completely before cutting.

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