Persian Jews from present-day Iran are especially proud of Queen Esther’s role in the holiday of Purim. A favorite dish of all children in Iran is halvah — a candy with ancient roots, which Persian Jews eat after they break the Fast of Esther, observed on Adar 13. At nursery school, Merissa learned this recipe for halvah from an Iranian teacher. In between bites, the children played with Esther and Ahasuerus marionettes they had made with the help of their teacher. This recipe was originally not sesame based, but I have adapted it since to include tahini. Its texture is more spoonable than cuttable, quite different from the commercial halvah to which we are accustomed.
Equipment:
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoon
- Large frying pan with cover
- Wooden spoon
- Spatula
- 8-x-8-inch square pan
From “A Sweet Year” © 2024 by Joan Nathan. Excerpted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Pistachio Halvah
Persian Jews honor Purim with halvah, a soft, tahini-based candy adapted from ancient recipes, traditionally eaten after the Fast of Esther and beloved for its rich connection to Queen Esther’s story.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Makes about 20 squares
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup tahini
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup chopped pistachios or walnuts
Instructions
- Adult with child: In a frying pan, brown the flour over low heat for about 20
minutes, watching constantly and stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Remove the pan from the heat. - Child: To the flour, add the tahini, sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and all but a
tablespoon of the oil. With the pan still off the heat, stir for about 5 minutes,
keeping the mixture a light-brown color. - Adult with child: Add 1 cup of water and reheat, whisking for 2-3 minutes, until the halvah thickens.
- Remove from the heat and cover the pan for a few minutes. Fold in the pistachios or walnuts.
- Child: Using the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil, grease an 8-inch square pan. Then scoop the mixture into the pan, spreading out well.
- Child: Let the mixture cool completely in the refrigerator and then cut it into small squares.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Quick
- Cuisine: Holiday
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