Honey Halva Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Grease an 8x10x2" rectangular non-stick pan and line the bottom with parchment and oil that too. You can also use a tin with a press out bottom, ramekins or a plastic container.
• 2. If you plan to use nuts in this it would be advisable to toast them at 350'F (180'C). And add them to the Honey syrup while it's still warm. Heat the honey is a medium sized sauce pan. Watch it, it will bubble up so keep a close eye on it.
• 3. I used a candy thermometer and when the temperature of the honey hit 240'F (115'C) the soft ball stage I took it off the heat to cool. If you are going to add nuts to this add them while the syrup is cooling.
• 4. While the honey is cooling, add your flavoring if using. I added some coconut essence to mine. Heat up the sesame tahini to 120'F (50'C) and fold the warm tahini into the warm syrup.
• 5. Once the mixture has cooled, cover it to keep out moister. This gives sugar crystals time to grow in the halva which gives it its distinct texture.
• 6. Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan, line it with parchment paper, and grease and flour parchment.
• In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 1/2 cup butter, then add chocolate. Melt, stirring frequently, until just smooth. Remove from heat, whisk in brandy or rum, and let cool.
• In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar and the salt, then whisk in cooled chocolate mixture.
• In an electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites to soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and beat to stiff peaks.
• Stir a little of the whites into chocolate mixture to lighten it, then gently fold all the whites into chocolate. Scrape batter into prepared pan, and bake until cake springs back when gently touched in center and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with some crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 20 minutes, then turn cake out onto rack, and cool completely. Wrap well, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight to firm texture.
• Make the halvah honey sauce: In a saucepan, bring cream to a simmer. Whisk in the tahini, honey and salt. Simmer the mixture, whisking, until it thickens to a custardlike consistency, about 2 minutes. Let mixture cool, then crumble in the halvah. To serve, drizzle sauce generously over the whole cake or individual slices.

Steps:

• Line an 8x8" baking pan or a 9x4" loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2" overhang on 2 sides. Using a wooden spoon, mix tahini, salt, and vanilla in a medium heatproof bowl.
• Pour 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan, then stir in sugar. Attach a candy thermometer to side of pan.
• Bring sugar to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally to help sugar dissolve, until thermometer registers 250°F. Immediately remove syrup from heat. Gradually stream syrup into tahini mixture, mixing tahini constantly with wooden spoon. Continue to stir just until halva comes together in a smooth mass and starts to pull away from sides of bowl (less than a minute). Be careful not to overmix or halva will be crumbly.
• Working quickly, scrape halva into prepared pan, pushing toward edges; smooth top. Let cool to room temperature, then cover tightly with plastic and chill at least 2 hours. Remove from pan using parchment overhang. Slice as desired to serve.
• Do Ahead: Halva can be made 3 weeks ahead. Transfer to an airtight container and chill.
• For Pistachio-Rose Halva
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 300°F. Spread 1 cup unsalted shelled pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until fragrant and lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer nuts to a plate. Let cool, then coarsely chop.
• Prepare halva, adding half of the chopped pistachios and 1/4 tsp. rosewater to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Stir sugar syrup into tahini mixture and form halva as directed. Sprinkle remaining nuts over, pressing gently to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.
• For Cardamom-Chocolate Halva:
• Prepare halva, adding 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Stir sugar syrup into tahini mixture, then quickly stir in 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate just to combine (you want to see streaks of chocolate). Form halva as directed. Sprinkle 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate over, pressing gently to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.
• For Lemon-Poppy Seed Halva:
• Prepare halva, adding 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Add 1 Tbsp. finely grated lemon zest to water in saucepan before making the sugar syrup, then prepare syrup as directed.
• Form halva as directed. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. poppy seeds over, pressing very gently just to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.
• For Chocolate-Za'atar Halvah:
• Prepare halva, adding 1/2 tsp. za'atar to the tahini, salt, and vanilla mixture.
• Stir sugar syrup into tahini mixture as directed, then quickly stir in 1/2 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate just to combine (you want to see streaks of chocolate). Form halva as directed. Sprinkle 1/4 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate over, pressing gently to adhere. Cover and chill as directed.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.Butter a 8x8 pan.
• In a medium bowl cream together butter and warm honey.Beat in eggs, one at a time.
• Gradually fold in farina,cinnamon, and almonds.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.
• Simmer water and honey for 10 minutes and pour over halva.
• Cool and cut into squares or diamonds.