Somali Sweet (Halwad/Halwo/Halwa)
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon orange food color powder
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 12 teaspoon cardamom powder
- 14 teaspoon nutmeg (an intoxicant which means it is not halal, may substitute less allspice)
- 12 cup oil
- 12 cup butter or 12 cup ghee
- 14 cup peanuts (optional)
- In a bowl mix 1 cup of water with the corn starch and food coloring, mix well until smooth.
- In a no stick pan on medium high add the remaining water, white sugar and brown sugar.
- Stir well until sugar is fully dissolved.
- Once small bubbles have started to form (not a full boil) add the corn starch mixture.
- Stir constantly until it just starts to thicken then add the oil.
- Stir well.
- Reduce heat to low.
- Stir for 30 seconds every 15 minutes adding 2 tablespoons of butter/ghee each time to incorporate.
- (Do not over stir) It will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes or so for the Halwo to become very thick and a lot of tiny bubbles will form.
- When that happens add the cardamom powder, nutmeg and nuts (if using).
- Stir well and pour the Halwo into a dish/cake pan.
- You may use a very small cake pan that is 6" X 9" for a thick halwo.
- It will fill that size pan to the top.
- Let cool on unrefrigerated, 3 hours for the small pan.
- Once fully cooled, turn pan upside down onto a plate and the Halwo will slide out.
- Cut and Serve.
cornstarch, orange food color powder, water, sugar, light brown sugar, cardamom powder, nutmeg, oil, butter, peanuts
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/somali-sweet-halwad-halwo-halwa-456141 (may not work)