Somali Halwa
- Soomaali
- Xalwo
- Français
- Halwa Somali
- العربية
- not translated yet
By Leila & Abdullahi · ·
For Somalis, Halwa (Xalwo) is synonymous with festive occasions, particularly weddings. When a Somali says, “Xalwaddeeda ma-cunin,” (lit. “I didn’t eat her halwa”) it means “I didn’t attend her wedding.”
Made mainly of butter/oil and sugar, halwa is laden with calories. However, it was a delicacy that was consumed on special occasions and in small quantities. There was a time when halwa was eaten only during weddings, Eid, or Mawlid celebrations. In the diaspora this has changed. Nowadays, halwa is consumed at a high frequency and you will find many Somalis buying halwa as part of their Asariye (Somali afternoon tea with treats).
There were some very well known halwa shops in Somalia. In Mogadishu, the most popular halwa shops were Xalwo Hilaal and Xalwo Kismaayo. On the night before Eid, you’ll find huge lineups in front of halwa shops until late at night.
Halwa (Xalwo) originated in Oman and this recipe can be traced back to Oman. An Omani lady in Toronto taught the recipe to her neighbour who taught it to her friend who taught Zahra Kassim (Abdullahi’s sister) who taught us how to make it. Therefore you would agree that it is quite authentic :). It is fit for a king, or we should say fit for a sultan!
Authentic halwa is made with ghee and a generous amount of spices (cardamom, nutmeg, and saffron) and rose water. Saffron is very expensive, therefore Somalis use food colouring instead. To further keep costs down, most halwa shops use oil instead of ghee and they skimp on the spices. Some halwa recipes call for toasted peanuts or toasted sesame seeds which are added just a couple of minutes before the halwa is done. The halwa is usually served with Qaxwo (traditional coffee).
Watch
Ingredients
1 cup = 237 mL · 1 Tbsp = 15 mL · 1 tsp = 5 mL. All are level measurements.
Method
Tap a step to mark it done.
Preparing the oil mixture
Using a mortar and pestle, break the nutmeg shells then crush the nuts. Next, grind the cardamom into a fine powder and then grind the crushed nutmeg nuts.
Melt the butter and lightly brown it. When the foam subsides, turn off the heat and add the ground cardamom, ground nutmeg, and the canola oil. Set aside.
Cooking the halwa
Prepare the corn starch mixture by combining the corn starch, food colouring, and ½ cup of water. Stir well. In a deep pot set on high heat, combine the white sugar, light brown sugar, and 3 cups of water. When the mixture comes to a boil, stir in the corn starch mixture. Make sure that you wear mitts and use a long wooden spoon to avoid getting burned. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cover for 2 to 3 minutes to control the splattering.
After 5 minutes, start adding the oil, a ladleful at a time and stir well. Keep adding the oil every 2 minutes or so, until all the oil is incorporated.
In the last 10 minutes of cooking, the halwa will start releasing some of the oil. Use a ladle to remove the oil and repeat between stirrings. We removed almost ½ cup of oil.
It is important to stir well in the last stages to ensure that the halwa cooks evenly. You don’t want parts of the halwa to reach the candy stage. You will know that the halwa is ready when it starts to come together into one mass. Be extremely careful when transferring the halwa to a bowl. Make sure that you remove the oil from the halwa and that the bowl is secured and doesn’t move. Cool the halwa for 30 minutes before serving.
Comments
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Asc A&L wn idin slamay sln ka
dib su’al bn idin waydinaya
Plz fadlan waxan raba inaan
xalwo isku dayo samaynteda
plz ii sheeg waxyalaha ku jira
waxyalaha layga bahan yahay
sida kartonka ay canada ku
qorantahay waxyalaha labada
gees ka xiga waxyalahaso
dhan ani laf ahanteda waxn
ka garanaya haylka only
fadlan waxyaalaha kale ee an
garanayn ee loo bahanyahay
iyo meelaha laga helo fadlan ii
sheeg
Asc A&L wn idin slamay sln ka dib su’al bn idin waydinaya
Plz fadlan waxan raba inaan xalwo isku dayo samaynteda plz ii sheeg waxyalaha ku jira waxyalaha layga bahan yahay sida kartonka ay canada ku qorantahay waxyalaha labada gees ka xiga waxyalahaso dhan ani laf ahanteda waxn ka garanaya haylka only fadlan waxyaalaha kale ee an garanayn ee loo bahanyahay iyo meelaha laga helo fadlan ii sheeg
Thank U so much for the recipe, realy U taught me how to make Xalwo without tiresome. Now wil try to make and make new experiment. Walaala Qaali ah aya tihin. Allah ha idinka Abaal Mariyo Abaalka ad u gasheen, dadka Soomaaliyeed. Jazakumu Allahu Kheyran.
asc
walaayal dhamantin wan idin salamay
intaad noofa,ideysen in kabadan allaha indin fa,ideyo
waxaan marbadan sameyay xalwo makastana qalad cusub ayaa isobax.
waxaan kariyey suger2kg+8cup=237ml+maizena400kg+oil2cup
waan kariya 2saac.waxay naqota midan jijimeyn marna bur qalan okale ayey noqota
aniga waxaan jeclahay xalwada kalajidanta sida xanjada aniga ilmaheygu aad ayan xalwada u cuna waan jecelnahay allaha idin fa ideyo in badan.
ana ifaideya wax yalah carafta nanaca okale ee maxan isticmal
Illah dhamantin ha idin xiftiyo
SWEDEN AAMINO
السلام عليكم. hadanan isticmalin clor xalwada cadi manoqonesa? وشكرا
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
Waa ka dayn kartaa haddaad jeceshahay ama shaah culus ayaa midab ugu yeeli kartaa.