Omani Halwa

Dark rose and saffron sweet cooked for hours in a copper pot.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups Cornstarch
• 3 cups Sugar
• 1¼ cups Ghee
• 3 tbsp Rose water
• 1 tsp Saffron
• 1 tbsp Cardamom
• ¾ cup Almonds
• 6 cups Water

Method

1. Make the slurry — Whisk the cornstarch into cold water until perfectly smooth.
2. Boil the syrup — Cook the sugar and remaining water until it thickens slightly.
3. Combine — Pour the slurry in while stirring constantly.
4. Cook for hours — Stir without stopping for at least 90 minutes until the mixture darkens to deep amber and turns glossy.
5. Add ghee slowly — Work it in a spoonful at a time; adding it too fast makes the halwa split.
6. Omani Halwa is ready — Add rose water, saffron, cardamom and almonds and set in a dish.

More Oman recipes

• Shuwa
• Omani Harees
• Omani Majboos
• Mashuai
• Omani Shuwa
• Omani Mishkak