Sweet Paste
HalvA
(By Mrs. Soheila Amiri)
(2? servings)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (8 oz.) of cooking oil.
• 1 cup (8 oz.) of all purpose white flour.
• 1 cup (8 oz.) of granulated sugar.
• 1/2 cup (4 oz.) of rose water (golAb).
• 1 table spoon of sugar powder (or granuatated sugar).
• 1 table spoon of cinnamon (dArcheen).

Directions:

In a medium size pot, heat up the cooking oil and slowly pour the flour while stirring and continue to stir until the mixture has a smooth texture and a golden brown color.

In a small pot, over medium-high heat, mix the rose water and sugar, constantly stir, and let it cook for a few minutes, until all the sugar dissolves. Pour the rose-water and sugar mixture over the flour paste, mix it well, and over medium-high heat cook for a few minutes and then turn off the heat. Cover the lid of the pot with a clean rag/paper towel and let the mixture sit in the pot for about an hour.

Next, pour out the paste into a flat dish, mold/decorate it into the shape you want, sprinkle the mixture of sugar and cinnamon on top of it (while it is still warm), and serve.

HINTS:

• Use unsalted white flour. Otherwise, the salt in the flour and the sugar used in the recipe give this dish a weird taste!!
• The rose water (liquid rose flower extract), is found in most Middle Eastern specialty stores.