Turkmen Halva — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

A rich dense confection made from toasted flour cooked with butter and sugar syrup until dark golden, set into blocks and sliced for serving.

Ingredients

1 Toast flour in melted butter in a heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for twenty-five minutes until deep golden.
2 Meanwhile dissolve sugar in water in a saucepan and bring to a boil then simmer for five minutes to create a clear syrup.
3 Carefully pour the hot sugar syrup into the toasted flour and butter mixture while stirring vigorously to prevent lumps.
4 Add cardamom and vanilla and continue cooking and stirring for ten more minutes until the mixture pulls away from the pan sides.
5 Press the hot halva mixture into an oiled tray or mold, smooth the top, and press chopped walnuts into the surface.
6 Let cool completely at room temperature then cut into diamond or square shapes for serving.

Did You Know?

Turkmen halva is always prepared for memorial gatherings called sadaka, where it is distributed to honor the deceased.