Originally posted by JoeMuni:
its also a speciality food in Lucknow , India
[b]Balkan style tahini-based halva with pistachios
The word halva is used to describe two distinctly different types
of sweet, block shaped confections. One type of halva is based on
semolina that is popular in India, Pakistan, and Persia. The other
type is based on tahini, which is more popular in the east
Mediterranean region.
Types
Both types of halva are relatively dense confections that are
sweetened with sugar or honey. However, their textures are quite
different with semolina halva being more gelatinous and
translucent, while tahini halva being drier and more crumbly.
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Semolina
Halva produced and served in India, Pakistan, Persia and
surrounding countries (different versions of it are also found in
Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), is usually made with semolina wheat,
sugar or honey, and butter or vegetable oil. Raisins, dates, or
other dried fruits are often included. Nuts such as almonds are
also commonly added to semolina halva. The halva is very sweet with
a gelatinous texture similar to polenta. The added butter gives it
a rich mouthfeel too.
Though semolina halva is considered to be essentially a "Northern"
confection in India, it is also quite famous in South India. A
prominent South Indian version of halva (or "alvaa", as it is
called in Tamil) is from Tirunelveli (pronounced Thiru-nel-vaeli)
,a city in the state of Tamil Nadu.
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Tahini
Tahini halva is popular in the western part of the the Balkans,
Middle East, and other areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The
primary ingredients in this confection are tahini and sugar or
honey, with Vanilla or Marshmallow root (called "Halawa") extracts
as common flavorings. Other ingredients such as pistachio nuts,
orange juice, or chocolate are often added to the basic tahini and
sugar base, resulting in a variety of flavors. [1]
[edit]
Other
Another popular type of halva served in India and Pakistan is
carrot based and is usually prepared with condensed milk and
ghee.
[edit]
[/b]
looks nice leh.
but me like the white diamond shape wif silver foil one. duno wat
its called though.
