How to make halva, orange-spiced semolina pudding cake with dried fruits and nuts

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds sweetness with fewer calories.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Coconut oil offers a unique flavor.

almonds

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: peanuts

Walnuts provide healthy fats at a lower cost.

cinnamon

🥗Healthier: nutmeg

💰Cheaper: pumpkin spice

Nutmeg offers a different aromatic profile.

Start by making the syrup with 3 cups of water, sugar, and Greek honey.

Add a cinnamon stick and a strip of orange zest to the syrup and dissolve.

Heat Greek olive oil in a saucepan until hot.

Add coarse semolina flour to the hot olive oil and stir continuously to prevent clumping.

Remove the cinnamon stick and orange zest from the syrup and stir in Greek saffron.

Pour the hot syrup into the semolina mixture gradually, stirring constantly.

Continue stirring until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan.

Fold in Greek raisins, toasted pistachios, additional cinnamon, and grated orange zest.

Spoon the mixture into a cake mold and cover with a cloth.

Let it sit for a couple of hours to set.

Invert onto a serving plate to serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens