Greek Semolina Halva
This vegan Greek halva dessert is a Lenten classic in Greece, but it's also a perfect recipe for those with dietary requirements right through the year!
- DF VG VE
Lent is traditionally a fasting period in Greece, where the Greek Orthodox church still has a lot of power over the country’s traditions. From Shrove Tuesday to Easter Sunday we traditionally wouldn’t eat dairy, as well as abstaining from meat and fish (but not shellfish). But that doesn’t mean no enjoyable meals! No, in fact a whole Greek cuisine has sprung up around the culture of fasting - Greek fasting food is called Ladera, or Lathera - food that is full of veggie and made with olive oil, containing no meat or dairy products.
This is the healthy heart of the Mediterranean diet (although this recipe doesn’t necessarily uphold this principle!) This Greek semolina cake recipe is unusual, but very authentic and moreish - I definitely urge you to try it.
So plenty of dairy-free cakes have sprung up over the centuries to ensure Lenten fasting is still a seasonal celebration. This semolina halva recipe is one of my favourite desserts, whenever I eat it, and it is dairy-free, egg-free and butter-free. Turns out a Greek halva dessert ticks all the boxes as a perfect recipe to have up your sleeve for any fasting or vegan visitors (and is completely glorious for anyone not sticking to any dietary exclusions, too)!
Ingredients
Tips
You can use any type of semolina but ideally, you should mix half fine and half thick semolina. This way your halva will have a much better texture.
If you’re a fan of almonds, drop 50g of crushed raw peeled almonds while sautéing the semolina.
Directions
You will need about 20 minutes to make 12 servings of this recipe, which has approximately 472 calories each. Make sure you have all the ingredients and follow these 6 simple steps. If you have any questions, send me an email and I’d be more than happy to help!
In a deep non-stick pot add the sunflower oil and sauté the semolina for 8 minutes over medium to low heat.
Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until it becomes golden brown. Be careful, semolina burns easily.
Continue by adding the sugar, water, cinnamon, cloves, raisins and lemon zest and keep stirring in medium to low heat.
After approximately 10 minutes, the mixture will thicken.
Transfer the mixture to a cake pan (approx. 22cm) and press it with a spoon to give it a nice shape.
Let it cool for a few hours and remove it from the cake pan. Sprinkle it with cinnamon and enjoy.
Watch it step-by-step!
Greek Semolina Halva
This Greek Halva Dessert recipe is just one of my favourite recipes of all time. It’s so tied to the Easter period for me (although I now happily make it year-round).
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I looooove this desert! My Greek neighbor makes it quite often. Didn’t realize it’s so easy to make.
Nice recipe. Just made it and used small cups instead of the suggested cake pan. My boys loved it!!!
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