Somali Sweet Halwadhalwohalwa Recipes

MALAWAH (SOMALI SWEET PANCAKE)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Beat or whisk all ingredients together in a bowl. Alternatively, mix together with a hand-held blender.
• Heat up a frying pan with enough butter or oil to lightly coat surface.
• Ladle some batter into pan and swirl such that batter distributes to make a thin layer which spreads towards curving sides of pan
• Fry for about a minute or until lightly golden, then flip over and fry another minute or so on the other side.
• Serve malawah by spreading melted butter and honey on top or sprinkling some sugar on top.

SOMALI SWEET (HALWAD/HALWO/HALWA)

Steps:

• 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.

PUNJABI SEMOLINA HALWA (SUJI HALWA)

Steps:

• Split the cardamom pods with a sharp knife and remove the seeds. Grind the seeds to a powder with 1 tsp of the sugar using a pestle and mortar. Keep the empty pods for the syrup.
• Heat the remaining sugar in a pan over a medium heat with 600ml water until dissolved. Add the empty cardamom pods and simmer, uncovered, for 5 mins. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and set aside.
• Heat the ghee in a wok or karahi over a medium heat, then add the semolina or flour. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring all the time, until it releases a toasted aroma and turns a biscuity golden colour, about 10 mins.
• Take the pan off the heat. Discard the empty cardamom pods from the warm syrup and pour it over the semolina in a thin, steady stream, stirring all the time. Take care - it will sputter. Return the pan to a medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the semolina thickens. It should have the consistency of creamy mashed potato. Stir in the ground cardamom, drained raisins and most of the sliced almonds. Serve piping hot with the remaining almonds scattered over.

SHUSHUMOW

Steps:

• Mix flour, 1/3 cup canola oil, egg, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, and salt together in the bowl of a stand mixer with an paddle attachment. Add 1/4 cup water slowly and mix until a soft dough is formed, 4 to 5 minutes. Let dough rest for 30 minutes.
• Cut dough into about thirty 1-inch pieces. Press each piece onto the back of a fork and curl it out away from you to make the shushumow.
• Heat 2 cups oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan over medium heat. Fry shushumow a few at a time, stirring slowly, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
• Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, and cardamom in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until sugar is dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in the shushumow gently until coated in the syrup. Transfer shushumow to a plate and let cool.