Sahlab (Hot Milk Pudding Drink with Cinnamon and Nuts)
Local name: سحلب
In short: A thick, silky hot milk drink scented with rose water and topped with cinnamon, pistachios and coconut, sold from street carts on cold Syrian nights. It takes about 17 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 17 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 240 kcal
Sahlab is the warm, thick drink Syrians reach for on winter nights, served in a cup with a spoon. Milk is thickened to a light pudding, perfumed with rose water and topped with cinnamon, pistachios and coconut. Real salep powder comes from orchid tubers and is hard to find, and most modern versions use cornstarch for the body, which is just as comforting.
Instructions
- Whisk the cornstarch with 120 ml (1/2 cup) of the cold milk in a small bowl until completely smooth.
- Heat the remaining milk and the sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming, stirring so it does not catch.
- Slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture while whisking, then keep stirring over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until the drink thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Stir in the rose water and mastic, if using, and cook for 1 more minute.
- Pour into four cups, top with cinnamon, pistachios and coconut, and serve hot with a spoon.
Tips
- If you can find real salep powder, use 2 teaspoons dissolved in the cold milk instead of cornstarch. It makes a stretchier, silkier drink, but only buy from sellers who source it sustainably.
- Thicken it a little less for a drink and a little more for a spoon pudding. Orange blossom water can replace the rose water.
Questions and answers
Is sahlab a drink or a dessert?
Both. In Syria it is sold in cups in winter and eaten with a spoon, so it sits between a hot drink and a pudding.
Can I make sahlab dairy-free?
Yes. Use an unsweetened oat or almond drink and the same amount of cornstarch. The result is a little thinner, so add a teaspoon more cornstarch if you like.
Can I reheat leftover sahlab?
Yes, but it sets as it cools. Reheat gently with a splash of milk and whisk until smooth again.
How long does it take to make Sahlab (Hot Milk Pudding Drink with Cinnamon and Nuts)?
About 17 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sahlab (Hot Milk Pudding Drink with Cinnamon and Nuts)?
About 240 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 28 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 240 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 28 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 110 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
