04 September 2026
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World Kitchen Journal
Halva with Pecans and Almonds
The Kitchen

Halva with Pecans and Almonds

Halva is a classic Middle Eastern sweet made from sesame paste as a base and which can be flavored with pecans, almonds, pistachios or chocolate. Components 1½ cup tahini ((100% sesame paste without any additive)) 1 cup sugar ½ cup water Juice of ½ lemon 1 oz. whole almonds 1 oz. pecan ((or 4 tablespoons chocolate chip…

By Test Kitchen · Israel · 2 min ·
Ingredients · Servings 8
  • 1½ cup tahini ((100% sesame paste without any additive))
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • 1 oz. whole almonds
  • 1 oz. pecan ((or 4 tablespoons chocolate chips))
  • Cooking thermometer
Method · 50 min
  1. Grease a plastic container or mini silicone molds .
  2. Roast almonds and pecans. The roasting time is not the same for both, so roast separately. Pecans burn faster than almonds.
  3. Put Tahini in a water bath .
  4. Put the sugar, lemon juice and water in a saucepan and cook to 240 F (115˚C). At this stage, the syrup is just starting to get a golden color, a bit like a start of caramel.
  5. Throughout the cooking of the syrup, stir regularly by tilting the pan. Absolutely do not use a spoon.
  6. Remove pan from heat .
  7. Pour the almonds and walnuts or chocolate in the tahini and mix well.
  8. Pour this mixture into the sugar syrup and stir with the spatula to mix everything.
  9. When the mixture begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, which happens very quickly, pour it into the container.
  10. Pack with the back of a spoon.
  11. Refrigerate for 48 hours before serving.

Put the sugar, lemon juice and water in a saucepan and cook to 240 F (115˚C). At this stage, the syrup is just starting to get a golden color, a bit like a start of caramel. Throughout the cooking of the syrup, stir regularly by tilting the pan.

Pour the almonds and walnuts or chocolate in the tahini and mix well. Pour this mixture into the sugar syrup and stir with the spatula to mix everything. When the mixture begins to pull away from the sides of the pan, which happens very quickly, pour it into the container.

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