Matcha Halva (Printable)
Nutty tahini meets earthy matcha in this delicate, melt-in-your-mouth Middle Eastern treat.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup tahini, well-stirred and unsweetened
02 - ½ cup granulated sugar
→ Flavor
03 - 2 teaspoons culinary grade matcha green tea powder
→ Syrup
04 - ⅓ cup water
→ Finish
05 - Pinch of fine sea salt
# Steps:
01 - Line an 8x4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang on all sides for easy removal of the set halva.
02 - Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar completely dissolves. Bring to a gentle boil and cook without stirring until thermometer reaches 245°F (soft ball stage).
03 - While syrup heats, whisk tahini, matcha powder, and sea salt in a mixing bowl until completely smooth and uniform in color.
04 - Immediately pour hot syrup into the tahini mixture once it reaches temperature. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon for 20-30 seconds until mixture thickens, appears matte, and begins pulling away from bowl sides.
05 - Quickly scrape mixture into prepared pan. Use spatula to smooth top evenly. Work rapidly as mixture begins setting immediately.
06 - Let halva cool at room temperature for 10 minutes, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour until completely firm and set.
07 - Lift halva from pan using parchment overhang. Cut into 12 even squares. Serve immediately or store refrigerated in airtight container.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The texture is somewhere between fudge and silk, it sort of dissolves before you even swallow
- Five ingredients and about fifteen minutes of actual work, most of which is just waiting for sugar to do its thing
- Matcha and tahini are one of those flavor combinations that make you pause and think, why is this not everywhere
02 -
- The sugar syrup temperature is non negotiable, too low and the halva will be sticky, too high and it will turn into a hard brick
- You have about thirty seconds between pouring the syrup and the mixture setting, so have your pan ready and clear any clutter off your counter
03 -
- If your tahini has separated completely, put the entire jar in a bowl of hot water for ten minutes, then stir it until smooth before measuring
- For a fancier presentation, press some chopped pistachios into the top right after you spread the halva in the pan