How to Eat Halva

Reviewed by Jennifer Levasseur

Last Updated: December 10, 2024 References

Halva is a sweet treat found across the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Central Asia. Many types of halva are made with sesame or nut butter, but each area has its own version of halva and often flavors it with regional products.^{[1]
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Research source} Enjoy the unique flavor of halva by itself or pair it with compatible food or drinks. If you are feeling adventurous, experiment with the new trend of baking with halva.^{[2]
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Ingredients

Chocolate Halva Brownies^{[3]
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12 ounces (340 g) chopped halva
7 ounces (200 g) roughly chopped dark chocolate
5 ounces (140 g) butter
4 eggs
1.5 cups (350 ml) sugar
1 cup (240 ml) flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
pinch of salt

Halva Cookies

8 ounces (230 g) margarine
15 ounces (430 g) vanilla flavored halva
1 cup (240 ml) flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
grated lemon zest from one lemon

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Eating Halva by Itself

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1
Buy halva fresh to ensure you get the best quality. Halva's increasing popularity has given rise to several pre-packaged brands, but it is still best to get it from a local deli. They can cut it fresh for you and it will likely be higher quality.^{[4]
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- Halva comes in different flavors. The most common flavors are vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio, but specialized delis may have a large assortment of unique flavor combinations.
- If you are feeling ambitious, you can make halva at home, but it is not easy.^{[5]
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  Research source} The ingredients are simple, but combining them correctly, cooking them at the correct temperature, and getting just the right texture is a real art form.^{[6]
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Make halva easier to eat by cutting, scraping, or spooning it. Halva can vary in texture from soft and spreadable to hard and brittle. It's easiest to eat if you can cut it into bite-sized pieces.
- If you have a soft or semi-soft halva, take it out of its container and slice it with a sharp knife.
- If you have a particularly hard halva, you may not be able to get a knife through it. In this case, shave pieces off the top with a strong metal spoon. Scraping the top of the halva with a spoon produces thin strips that resemble sawdust shavings.
- Soft halva can be enjoyed right out of the container with a spoon.
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3
Let the halva melt in your mouth to appreciate its unique flavor. To fully savor the experience, some people prefer to let the halva slowly melt on their tongue rather than chew and swallow.^{[7]
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- Because some types of halva can be hard and sticky, letting it sit on your tongue can also prevent it from getting stuck in your teeth.
4
Have some halva as an energizing snack. The simple ingredients in halva make it a great choice if you are craving a sweet pick-me-up. It can give you a sugary energy-boost without all the extra ingredients in packaged candy.^{[8]
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- Although halva is high in sugar, the sesame base provides a boost of vitamin B, protein, and calcium.
- Try having a piece during mid-morning or afternoon slumps to help recharge your energy reserves.
5
Savor halva as a dessert. Instead of having a piece of chocolate after a meal, try a slice of halva. The sweetness of halva is perfect if you are looking for a little treat after a savory dish.
- Some people compare the taste and texture of halva to Butterfinger.^{[9]
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  Research source} If you are a fan of snacking on a Butterfinger after dinner, you may want to try halva for a simpler alternative that is just as sweet.
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Enjoy halva in moderation. Halva is a very sweet, dense treat. Even though it has simple and wholesome ingredients, it is still a candy and can give you a sugar rush (and subsequent crash) if you overindulge.
- Although it may not seem like you are eating a lot, consuming more than ten small pieces or thin slices in one sitting may give you a stomach ache.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Pairing Halva with Food and Drink

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1
Pair halva with coffee for the perfect combination of bitter and sweet. If you want to wash down your halva with something, consider pairing it with a strong coffee. The bitterness of the coffee will offset the intense sweetness of the halva.^{[10]
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- The extra robust, bitter flavor of Turkish coffee pairs extra well with the sweet taste of halva.
2
Eat halva with tea to counteract the sweetness of the treat. If you don't like coffee, try your favorite tea instead. Earl Grey or another strong, bitter tea would be a great choice.
- Sweet herbal teas do not generally pair well with halva because halva is already so sweet. You may not be able to enjoy the subtle taste of your herbal tea after the intense flavor of the halva.
3
Add halva to savory breakfast foods to add variety to your morning. Bring out your halva in the morning to make your breakfast more exciting. Use softer halva as a spread, or sprinkle slices or strips of harder halva over breakfast dishes.
- Spread soft halva on your toast. Because of its intense sweet flavor, it's best to spread it on blander foods like baguettes, crackers, or biscuits.^{[11]
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- Sprinkle halva over your cereal. It's easy to add small slices or strips of halva into your favorite cereal, or add it to your granola.
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Mix halva pieces with sweet foods like fruit, ice cream, or baked goods for an extra sweet option. If you have a real sweet tooth, try enhancing your favorite sweet treats with bits of halva. Because halva is already very heavy, be careful about adding it to rich or dense sweets like filled pastries. Also, remember that a little goes a long way!
- If you want to give a new twist to a healthy snack, try adding bits of halva to banana and strawberry slices.^{[12]
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- Crumbled halva makes an excellent ice cream topping.
- Sprinkle halva on top of baked goods. Halva's texture makes it great as a topping for your favorite baked goods. Try it on cookies, brownies, cakes, or tarts.^{[13]
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  Research source} It pairs especially well with chocolate-flavored sweets.^{[14]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Baking with Halva

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1
Make traditional brownies even better by adding a crunchy halva crust. Line the bottom of the baking pan with chopped halva to make a tasty, crunchy crust for your brownies. To make halva brownies:^{[15]
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- Grease a large pan and line it with parchment paper. Cover the bottom of the pan with chopped halva.
- Melt the dark chocolate and butter and set aside.
- Whisk the eggs and sugar together in a large bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Pour in the melted chocolate mixture and stir until combined.
- Sift flour, cocoa powder, and salt over the combined mixture and gently fold together.
- Pour the mixture over the halva in the baking pan and spread evenly.
- Set aside for 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Bake for 25 minutes at 350 °F (177 °C).
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Bake halva cookies to enjoy unique flavor combinations. Adding soft halva to cookies gives them a creamier consistency and a touch of nutty flavor. To create these delicious cookies:
- Place the margarine in a mixer with a whisk attachment and beat until fluffy.
- Break vanilla flavored halva into pieces and add to the mixer, beating until combined.
- In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and lemon zest.
- Add the dry ingredients to the mixer and beat until incorporated.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Divide the dough into 30 pieces and transfer to baking pans lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 340 °F (171 °C) for 12-15 minutes.
You can add the nutty, sweet flavor of halva to your favorite treat by crumbling it and adding it to the batter. It works great in almost anything, from cheesecake to muffins.^{[16]
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