Halvaitar (Tajik Toasted Flour Halva)
Local name: Ҳалвоитар
In short: Flour toasted in butter until nutty and brown, then stirred with hot sugar syrup and walnuts and set into soft, sliceable diamonds. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 220 kcal
Halvaitar is a soft halva made from toasted flour, butter and sugar syrup, served at gatherings, at the end of a plov meal and with tea. Tajik cooks traditionally toast the flour in mutton fat. Butter is easier to find and gives a similar nutty richness. It takes constant stirring over low heat, and the flour changes from pale to a deep, nutty brown. Pour it out, let it set and cut it into diamonds.
Instructions
- Heat the sugar and water in a small saucepan until the sugar dissolves, then simmer for 3 minutes. Keep the syrup hot.
- Melt the butter in a wide, heavy pan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and stir constantly for 12 to 15 minutes, until the mixture turns golden brown and smells nutty.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Standing back, because it will splatter, pour in the hot syrup in a steady stream while stirring fast.
- Return to low heat and stir for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is smooth, thick and pulls away from the sides. Stir in the vanilla, salt and half the walnuts.
- Spread the halva in a lightly buttered dish or plate about 2 cm (3/4 in) thick and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and press them in lightly.
- Let it cool and set for 2 hours, then cut into diamonds or squares.
Tips
- Stir constantly while toasting the flour, or it will burn in patches and taste bitter. Stop when it is the color of peanut butter.
- Pour the syrup in carefully. Hot syrup meeting hot flour splatters, so use a long spoon and keep your face back.
Questions and answers
How long does halvaitar keep?
It keeps for up to 5 days in an airtight container at room temperature, or 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Can I use oil instead of butter?
Yes. Sunflower oil gives a lighter flavor, and the halva is also dairy-free. Use the same weight of oil.
Why is my halvaitar too soft?
It probably needed more time on the heat after the syrup went in. Cook it a few more minutes until it pulls away from the pan, and chill it longer.
How long does it take to make Halvaitar (Tajik Toasted Flour Halva)?
About 45 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Halvaitar (Tajik Toasted Flour Halva)?
About 220 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 30 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 220 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 20 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
