Halva/halvah
 

Does anyone have any good recipes or interesting information about Halva?

The stuff I was always familiar with is sesame seed halva, basically Jewish halva (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halva). I love this type of halva.

A family friend has just returned from Melindi in Kenya and brought with him something totally different but still bears the name halva. He told me that it is where the original name "sweetmeat" comes from, so-called because it looks like meat! It is red, gelatinous, sweet and contains pistacios and almonds and smells overpoweringly of cardamon seeds. It is sticky, delicate and delicious. I would love to be able to make it.

Is anyone familiar with this type of halva?

A.

There was a programme on BBC Radio this week talking about it.

The stuff that you describe sounds like what they called "Almond Halva" from originally from Anatolia in Persia (i.e. modern Turkey).

The programme was about Suffi lifestyles - so that might help you to find a recipe.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/foodprogramme.shtml

For the next couple of days you can use the "listn again" feature to hear the programme.

Thanks very much, I'll have a listen.

EDIT: Very interesting show, this book might be a good bet http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...525882-7887003
or I'll ask my mum to go through her Claudia Roden cookbooks.