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İrmik helvası
Semolina halva with pine nuts
İrmik helvası: semolina slowly roasted in butter with pine nuts, then steamed in sweet milk
Across Turkey, the smell of semolina toasting in butter means something is happening: a new baby, a mevlit prayer gathering, or the forty days after a funeral, when neighbours are sent plates of warm helva. It is also simply a Friday-night family sweet. The semolina is stirred with pine nuts in butter until it is the colour of hazelnuts, then hissing hot milk and sugar are poured in and the pan rests until every grain swells. Common mistake: rushing the roasting over a high heat; it browns unevenly and tastes raw inside. Chef's tip: press the warm helva into a small cup and turn it out for neat domes, then dust with cinnamon.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 9 oz coarse semolina
- 3 ½ oz butter
- 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¾ cup water
- 7 oz sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 2 cups whole milk, ¾ cup water and 7 oz sugar in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves, then keep it hot over a low heat.
Step 2: Melt 3 ½ oz butter in a wide heavy pan over a medium-low heat, add 9 oz coarse semolina and 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts and stir constantly for 20–25 minutes, until the semolina smells nutty and is an even golden-brown, like hazelnut skin. Common mistake: turning the heat up to hurry it.
25 minStep 3: Take the pan off the heat and carefully pour in the hot milk; it will spit and bubble fiercely. Stir well.
1 minStep 4: Return to a low heat and stir for 2–3 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and the helva pulls away from the sides.
3 minStep 5: Cover with a tea towel under the lid and rest off the heat for 15 minutes, until the grains are swollen and tender. Serve warm, dusted with ½ tsp ground cinnamon.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 470 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 63 g
- Fat
- 21 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does i̇rmik helvası take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
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