Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Irrespective of where you come from, if you've lived in Oman, you have come across Omani halwa. A food that is synonymous with Omani culture and tradition, don't let its simple brown, unassuming colour guide your palate. Instead, take a spoonful of the rich, flavourful sweet and your uncertainties over this dessert will be forever banished.
Omani halwa is traditionally made with a few simple ingredients. Ghee, tapioca flour and water are the primary constituents of this centuries-old delicacy. While dates were the standard sweetening agent for decades, modern palates and preferences mean some halwa makers use sugar to make their version.
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Cardamom and chopped nuts are other staples of the Omani halwa, and more exotic ingredients that represent Omani culture also find their way into the sweet. Saffron, originally brought in from Iran and the Indian subcontinent, offers a deeper flavour, while some sweet vendors will use rose water to give it a signature aftertaste.
Halwa is traditionally offered as a symbol of welcome to guests and is served alongside Omani kahwa. It is also eaten to signify good fortune before embarking on an ambitious project.
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The sweet is made in huge bronze cauldrons that are inserted over brick and mortar or stone fireplaces, which house a steady flame. The key ingredients are slowly and steadily stirred until they coalesce into a jelly like mixture, after which the sweeteners and other flavours are added.
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