Sweetness
Halwa’ حلوى in Arabic means ‘sweet confection’. The root in Arabic: ح ل و, ( ḥ-l-w), means “sweet”.
Halwa is a popular dessert in Arab countries and it is usually served with coffee. It is quite easy to make and it is a great dessert to end a meal. Traditionally, Halwa is also served in a large earthenware bowl of varying sizes.
So, how do you eat this sticky treat?
You can take halva out of the package / container, put it on the dish, cut into smaller pieces and eat using fingers, a fork or a spoon. You can also eat by scooping it out with a teaspoon from the bowl.
Omani Halwa
Halwa and coffee are symbols of Omani hospitality. Omani Halwa is also served during weddings and religious occasions like Eid.
Omani Halwa has attained some popularity and anybody visiting the country should not leave without trying it first.
The traditional Omani Halwa is a combination of eggs, sugar, corn flour and clarified butter. It is flavoured with spices such as cardamom and saffron. Halwa is made with nuts likes pistachio, walnut, cashew and also pine nuts.
What makes Omani Halwa special and adds fragrance and flavour is the use of rosewater from the Jebel Akdhar, honey or frankincense. However, every family and halwa producer have their own secret recipe.
Below are two videos. The first one shows how Halwa is traditionally made in Oman. The second one shows you how to make Halwa yourself.
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