Click on the image, above to submit to Pinterest.

Halawa Yaqtin (Pumpkin Halwa)

Halawa Yaqtin (Pumpkin Halwa) is a traditional Middle Eastern recipe for a classic sweet snack or dessert of pumpkin puree and tahini in a syrup base with pistachio nuts that's set in a dish before being sliced or served. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Middle Eastern version of:Pumpkin Halwa (Halawa Yaqtin).

prep time

20 minutes

cook time

20 minutes

Total Time:

40 minutes

Additional Time:

(+over-night cooling and chilling)

Serves:

8–10

Rating:

Tags : Vegetarian RecipesDessert RecipesMiddle-east Recipes

This is a classic Middle Eastern snack or dessert, often served as a sweet treat for Eid. The recipe is derived from the classic tahini and almond butter halwa, with cooked and mashed pumpkin being used instead of the almond butter (yaqtin is an Arabic word meaning gourd or pumpkin and this can be made from green bottle gourd or butternut squash or pumpkin flesh).

To make the pumpkin purée for this recipe, dice bottle gourd, pumpkin or butternut squash then steam until tender, drain thoroughly and mash with a fork until smooth.

Ingredients:

300g caster sugar
100g tahini (sesame seed paste)
150g roasted, unsalted, pistachio nuts, shelled
250g pumpkin purée
100ml water

Method:

Beat together the pumpkin purée and tahini in a bowl until smooth.

Grease a loaf tin, line with greaseproof (waxed) paper and line once more.

Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add a confectioner's thermometer and continue boiling until the temperature reaches 125°C.

Immediately add the pistachio nuts and stir into the syrup then take off the heat.

Gradually pour the hot syrup solution onto the pumpkin and tahini mix, whilst whisking constantly.

Pour the resultant halawa mixture into the prepared loaf tin then set aside to cool completely. Once cooled to room temperature, cover and set aside to chill in the refrigerator over night.

When set, turn out of the tin and cut into slices.

This can be eaten as a sweetmeat, or it can be used as a pâté and spread on bread or toast.