Persian Mama

Persian Food, Desserts, Baking and Pastry Recipes with step-by-step instructions and illustrations

  • Home
  • All recipes
  • Index
  • Damkesh/Damkoni Order
  • Helpful Tips
  • ABOUT US
  • Culture

TAR HALVA ترحلوا

October 27, 2015 By Homa

Tar Halva
Tar Halva is a very traditional Persian dessert made with rice flour, ground cardamom and butter.  It is sweetened with a light saffron syrup that is mildly scented with rosewater. Tar Halva translates to “moist halva,” which is a different version of the regular Halva; it is made with rice flour and has a softer and moister consistency. Tar Halva is made using various methods in different parts of Iran from North to South, and this results in many types of Tar Halva with different colors, consistencies, and flavors.

Tar Halva The word Halva comes from the Arabic “Halwa,” which means desserts or sweets. Halva is a very popular dessert in many parts of the world and every country uses a different method with special added ingredients. You could say there are as many different halva recipes and techniques as there are countries that make them.
Tar Halva
For example in Iran there are so many different types of Halva: Tar Halva is made with rice flour. The regular Halva is made with wheat flour. Halva Ardeh is made with sesame paste mixed with sugar and pistachios. Halva Havij is made with carrots. Halva Zanjabil is a drier halva with a hot ginger flavor.
Tar Halva In today’s Iran desserts such as Rollet, Napoleons, Cheesecakes, Danish Pastries as well as many others are baked by the home cooks and also by the pastry chefs in confectionery (ghannadi) shops in every city in Iran. Back in the day when these desserts were not available, the sweets with more simple ingredients were made in every home to share with one’s family and guests. The recipes for the traditional desserts such as Tar Halva have been passed down from generation to generation; this is one such recipe.
Tar Halva
One thing that I can say with certainty is that no matter how many different European and western pastries and sweets are enjoyed in Iran, there is no scarcity of desserts like Tar Halva on the table at big parties and gatherings. This fragrant dessert is cooked with good quality butter (kareh), exotic cardamom (hel), golden saffron (zaferan), and perfumed with a touch of rosewater (golab).  So no wonder it is still extremely popular with so many who savor the rich flavors and love the soothing smooth texture that melts in the mouth.

flour and butter
paste like

To make the Tar Halva, the rice flour must be stirred and cooked in the skillet without any oil until it is aromatic and nutty without changing color. Then the butter is stirred in with the hot flour over heat until the flour is all moistened by butter and resembles a paste.  If you notice the color is getting darker reduce the heat and continue stirring until the paste is smooth without a greasy texture.

a drop of dough in the syrup
pour syrup in the batter

Drop a small piece of the hot paste into the lukewarm syrup and if it sizzles then it is hot enough to be mixed with the syrup. Pour the entire syrup into the skillet over the hot paste.

stir syrup into batter
the mixture comes together

Use a wooden spoon to stir and mix the hot paste and syrup.  Keep stirring until the Tar Halva mixture is well blended and once again starts forming a paste. Turn off the heat and keep stirring until the Tar Halva starts pulling away from the bottom and sides of the skillet and comes together to form a ball.
Tar Halva
Transfer the Tar Halva to a bowl and and cool for about 15 minutes at room temperature.  Then transfer the it to a shallow serving platter and smooth out the top with the back of a spoon. Use the tip of the spoon to make designs on the Tar Halva.  If you don’t like how it looks, no sweat, just smooth it out and start all over again; this is a very smooth and forgiving halva!

Add some optional garnish with slivered or chopped pistachios and dried rose petals.

Enjoy this delicious saffron and rosewater scented dessert after lunch or dinner with a cup of tea.

 

5.0 from 4 reviews
TAR HALVA
 
Print
Serves 4-6
Author: Homa
Recipe type: Tar Halva/Dessert
Cuisine: Persian
Ingredients
  • FOR THE SYRUP
  • ⅔ cup sugar
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ tsp saffron powder
  • 2 TBSP rose water
  • FOR THE TAR HALVA BASE
  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 2 ½ ounces unsalted butter, cubed
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • Optional Garnish:
  • Slivered or chopped pistachios
  • Dried rose petals
Instructions
  1. First make the syrup: Mix sugar and water over medium heat only until the sugar dissolves and comes to a low boil. Add saffron and stir. Remove from the heat. Add the rosewater and stir to combine. Set aside so it cools to lukewarm. Do not boil the syrup.
  2. Now make the base: Add the flour to a nonstick 10-inch skillet and stir over medium heat with a wooden spoon for about 8-10 minutes, or until it becomes aromatic and smells nutty. The flour should not change color.
  3. Add cold butter cubes and ground cardamom to the skillet. Stir over medium heat until all the flour becomes moist and paste like. Keep stirring until all the butter is completely cut into the flour and the mixture is nice and paste like but not greasy looking.
  4. Add a small piece of the hot paste to the lukewarm syrup. If it sizzles the paste is hot enough to be mixed with the syrup.
  5. Now add all the syrup in the skillet over the hot paste. Keep stirring over medium heat with wooden spoon until well blended.
  6. Keep stirring until once again the mixture sticks together and forms a paste.
  7. Turn off the heat and keep stirring until the Tar Halva starts pulling away from the sides and bottom of the skillet.
  8. Add the Tar Halva to a bowl and cool at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
  9. Transfer the Tar Halva to a shallow serving platter. Smooth the top with the back of a spoon, then use the tip of the spoon to make designs on top.
  10. Garnish with some slivered or chopped pistachios and dried rose petals.
  11. Enjoy the Tar Halva after lunch or dinner with a cup of tea.
Notes
Cardamom, rosewater, rice flour and saffron are sold in Middle Eastern markets.
To make ground cardamom: Grind the whole pods in a small food grinder until you get a soft powder. No need to remove the skin.
To make ground saffron: Grind saffron threads in a small food grinder until soft powder.
3.5.3251

Filed Under: Desserts, Quick & Easy, Recipe Tagged With: halva, pistachio, Ramadan, rose petals, rosewater, saffron, traditional Persian desserts

« CHAI GOL GAVZABAN گل گاوزبان | BREWED BORAGE TEA
CHICKEN PICCATA »

Comments

  1. khanomalef says

    October 27, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Very nice photos Homa and it looks yummy and classic thanks for sharing .
    خاطرات بچگيم زنده شد

    • Homa says

      October 27, 2015 at 9:11 am

      Dear Khanomalef, I love that my recipe and pictures bring back childhood memories for you. Thank you so much for the comment. Have a lovely day! خیلی ممنون برای نوشته پر از مهرتون عزیز

  2. Shahab says

    October 27, 2015 at 10:11 am

    Great photos Thank you. A question, can Iranian breads like Barbari be baked at home?

    • Homa says

      October 27, 2015 at 11:01 am

      Dear Shahab, thank you for the nice comment. Of all the Iranian breads probably Barbari is the one that bakes very nicely at home. My husband and I have been perfecting a Barbari recipe that I will be posting soon. One thing that helps with the texture is a baking stone, though it is not an absolute necessity.

  3. Fae's Twist & Tango says

    October 27, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Wow! Absolutely beautiful gluten-free dessert! I did not know of Tar Halva and I learned a lot from this post. I used to watch my mother make flour halva. I was always intrigued by desserts cooked on the stove with no oven needed. Keep educating us, dear Homa! 🙂

    • Homa says

      October 27, 2015 at 1:28 pm

      Fae, thank you for another lovely comment, you always know what to say to make a girl’s day :))
      I am so happy that you have always had an interest for these old-fashioned desserts. There is something special about making something so delicate and delicious just by mixing a few simple ingredients, and think of the simpler times!

  4. Grazielle says

    April 27, 2016 at 2:20 pm

    Hello, thank you..will use this recipe for my gluten-free son for this upcoming Ramadan. Didn’t make any halva last year because of the wheat flour…had no idea could make it with rice flour! So happy as all my family loves halva!

    • Homa says

      April 27, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Dear Grazielle, I’m so pleased to hear that you will make my halva recipe for your family and especially for your son! This is a very delicious halva, please enjoy it in good health.

  5. Gina says

    January 10, 2017 at 3:29 pm

    Hello, I just would like to know if I can use just regular flour instead of the rice flour

    • Homa says

      January 10, 2017 at 11:44 pm

      Hello Gina, Tar halva is made with rice flour and this gives it the bright saffron color and a light texture . The recipe that you want to make is another dessert that is called Halva and it will have a darker color and a firmer texture.

  6. syd says

    April 13, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    Can’t wait to try! Would using coconut oil work as a way to share with dairy free friends?

    • Homa says

      April 13, 2017 at 2:50 pm

      Hi Syd, I have never tried this with coconut oil, but I don’t see why it should not work. Please let me know how it turns out for you!

  7. افسانه says

    February 16, 2018 at 10:03 pm

    سلام عزیزم من زیاد انگلیسیم خوب نیست اما کاملا مشخصه که شما خانوم بسیار هنرمندی هستی عزیزم

    • Homa says

      February 17, 2018 at 1:18 am

      سلام افسانه جان، سپاس از لطف و محبت شما دوست عزیز

  8. Arezou says

    July 20, 2018 at 8:22 pm

    عالی بود ممنون گلم ?

    • Homa says

      July 20, 2018 at 11:08 pm

      نوش جونت عزیزم 🙂

  9. Maria says

    March 21, 2019 at 9:48 am

    Thanks. I’m Lebanese, gluten intolerant, living in a country where my home’s food and desserts are not available and though I speak the language there is still a language barrier in me describing and requesting my kind of comfort food like Middle Eastern sweets and Tar Halva was definitely always a staple in our home I just never knew it was also naturally gluten free and vegan or the exact name! (I’ve found that childhood memories and childish cutesy nicknames of food stuff are not particularly helpful in requesting what you need…) Will definitely be making this! <3

  10. Homa says

    March 22, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    Dear Maria; lovely to hear from you! I think you’ll love this halva. You’ll also find many other gluten free recipes on my blog. I hope I will read more of your comments when you try these recipes. Take care and let me know if you have any questions.

  11. Afsaneh says

    May 13, 2019 at 2:21 pm

    Homa joon I followed ur recepie step by step ( or so I think!) and it looked and tasted okay. I covered it over night after transferring to a plate. And in the morning the halva was hard as cement!
    I can’t think what I might have done wrong! Could you!?

  12. Homa says

    May 13, 2019 at 2:49 pm

    Sorry to hear that Afsaneh jan; I’m afraid I can’t guess what would cause these ingredients to get that hard if the recipe has been followed exactly. This is a very soft halva that stays soft long after it has been cooked. Anything made with butter does get harder when placed in the fridge but it softens after being at room temperature for a while. I wish I could help you more but this is the first time I hear this happen with this recipe.

    • Afsaneh says

      May 14, 2019 at 8:54 am

      Thanks for ur response azizam! I will change my rice flour and give it another shot – with more attention to details.

      • Homa says

        May 15, 2019 at 11:58 am

        Afsaneh jan; that is the spirit 😉 I know your halva will be awesome this time. Some points to watch out for:
        * This is a thin syrup and it should be removed from the heat as soon as it comes to a low boil.
        * Do the paste test as described, before adding the syrup.
        *After you add the syrup to the paste, it will not take too long for it to look uniform and to start to pull away from the pan. Overcooking at this point might cause the problem that you’ve had the first time. Remove the pan from the heat and stir a few times before allowing it to cool for 15 min before shaping it.

  13. Melina says

    June 17, 2019 at 1:10 pm

    Hello, dear mama 🙂
    I made this recipe with wheat flour first and it was awsome, then second time with rice flour but I felt the rice like sand a little bit when I eat it. Do you know why? It was a very fine rice flour .. I can t understand?
    Thank you so for your recipes

    • Homa says

      June 19, 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Hello dear Melina; This halva is usually very smooth, sorry to hear that yours was on the grainy side 😉 I can think of a few points that might be the culprit; If the ground cardamom is not fine enough you might bite into the fibers from the skin or the seeds that might not be as smooth. The other possible explanation can be that the rice flour was old or it was exposed to moisture prior to cooking, or that it was cooked too much at the initial dry cooking. I hope your next halva will be very smooth 😉 Have a great day!

      • Melina says

        June 26, 2019 at 2:35 am

        Thank you for your kind response:) I will try it again. I think the rice flour is a little bit old.

  14. Sarah says

    January 1, 2021 at 4:47 pm

    Salam homa khanoom!

    Happy 2021! wishing you all the best.
    I am new to your site and already loving your recipes.

    I just tried this recipe and the paste was very crumbly and would not come together. Would you have any suggestions on how to avoid this next time.

    I only had low fat butter at hand. Could that be why?

    Thank you in advance.

    • Homa says

      January 5, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      Salam Sarah joon, happy new year to you too! Welcome to my blog, it is great to have you here. Considering that the fat content of regular butter is about 80% and only 40% for the low fat butter, the low fat butter is probably the culprit here. I would suggest using regular unsalted butter next time. This part of the recipe is also very important: “The rice flour must be stirred and cooked in the skillet without any oil until it is aromatic and nutty without changing color. Then the butter is stirred in with the hot flour over heat until the flour is all moistened by butter and resembles a paste.”
      I hope this helps, let me know how your next halva turns out.

  15. Giti says

    March 1, 2021 at 10:23 am

    Hi Homa joon I love all your recipes. I have never made Halva of any sort before. I am going to try your recipe for Tar Halva. I saw in another site she used cooking oil instead of butter to make the Tar Halva soft. Any thoughts on that? And she added an egg yolk at the end.

    • Homa says

      March 1, 2021 at 1:09 pm

      Hi Giti jan, glad you are enjoying my recipes. You will love this halva, it is amazing, soft and delicious! I would recommend not changing anything about this recipe, at least the first time you cook it.
      That recipe with oil and egg sounds like a totally different recipe than mine 😉
      Please let me know how this works for you. Take care

Homa

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Popular Recipes

Fall is the pomegranate season, and I feel it is the perfect time to share my Fesenjan, or Fesenjoon recipe (chicken stew with walnut and pomegranate sauce). Beautiful red ripe pomegranates are available in most supermarkets. This jeweled fruit is the wonder of nature and makes you think about the intricate design that nestles precious gems that…

Read More »

Kabob Koobideh (کباب کوبیده) is made with ground lamb or beef or a combination of the two.  This is one of the most popular kabobs you can find on the streets of Iran. This Kabob is usually grilled over hot coals and is served in fancy restaurants and clubs, as well as in the little shacks…

Read More »

 Barbari, Noon Barbari, or Nan Barbari, is a popular traditional Persian flat bread with a crisp crust and light airy texture. Noon, or nan, means bread in Farsi. This bread is best when eaten hot right out of the oven and it is the most favored bread for breakfast (sobhaneh). Some of the special delicacies enjoyed with…

Read More »

Copyright © 2023