Greek semolina halva

This semolina halva will be definately a nice surprise to you, especially if you like your desserts to be authentically sweet with the aroma of cinnamon, star anise and cloves. That’s the most simple Greek dessert that you can be treated with in Greece, it matches perfect vanilla ice cream and a nice cup of Greek coffee. When I was mixing it in the pot i realized what it really looked like; the beach sand that hides in your toes, your hair, your clothes when in one of the beautiful Greek beaches. Summer is once again on my mind, I’ve been thinking lately that this year will be different than others. As much as I want to go to Greece for summer vacation, I think I will be even more happy if I manage to be there just a little bit to see my family!

the recipe

30′

1 cup sunflower oil
2 cups semolina
2 cups sugar or 1 1/2 cups sugar & 2tbsp. honey
4 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
3 pieces of star anise
6-7 pieces cloves
extra powder cinnamon to serve

directions

Add sugar (or also the honey) and water together with all spices in a pot and warm up in low temperature until the sugar melts (we don’t need a sirup!)
Put another pot in medium temperature and add in there the oil and semolina. Using a wooden big spoon you roast the semolina, mixing continuously until the semolina gets a nice brown color.
When you have the color you want in semolina you get the pot of the fire and add the sugar water really carefully (the semolina pot has a very high temperature and the hot oil in there will react heavily to the water coming in, be careful!)
Mix all ingredients with your wooden spoon and let it again in medium temperature for about 3-4min.
Your halva is ready, you can let it cool down a bit before serving it with cinnamon powder!

Enjoy!

Tips!

The traditional recipe is simply given as 1-2-3-4 (1 oil, 2 semolina, 3 sugar, 4 water). You can try it like this as well and see what you like. The quantity of sugar here has only to do with taste, no structure/texture issues so feel free to experiment!

You can also add whatever nut or dry fruits you like in your halva (add them while roasting the semolina)

If you like orange and you want an extra element there you can replace part of the water with orange juice, add some orange skin to the sugar water and add some zest on the final stage where you mix all together!