Persian Halva Recipe

An easy recipe for Persian Halva, a traditional vegan dessert made of fried flour and rose water syrup.

This page may use affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

Why You’ll Love Persian Halva

• Halva (also spelled Halvah) is a confectioner sweet found in many variations in different cultures. The Israeli Halvah is tahini- based and often served as a snack or for breakfast. Persian Halva is a dessert of fried flour and rose water syrup.
• Halva is traditionally vegan, made with oil instead of butter.
• Persian cooking is a labor of love, and my grandmother was the epitome of selflessness and love. She enjoyed cooking for her family, and she regularly made Persian Halva. Only later, when I made Halva myself, did I realize what arm strength it requires! It requires mixing constantly and quickly flour in oil for up to 20-30 minutes until the correct color and consistency are reached.
• Persian Halva is delicious with a cup of Persian tea, called chaie.

Ingredients/Equipment Notes

To make this delicious Persian Halva, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements are in the recipe card below):

• sugar
• rosewater – you can get this at the Persian or Indian store or even Amazon.
• ground saffron
• ground cardamom
• oil 
• all-purpose flour
• crushed pistachios for garnish

You will also need the following equipment:

• Large non-stick pan – I use these toxic-free pans on Amazon.

How to Make the Best Persian Halva

• Prepare the rosewater syrup. First, add the water and the sugar to a medium pot on medium/high heat. 
• Add the rosewater, ground saffron, and ground cardamom.
• Bring to a simmer and stir continuously until sugar is dissolved. 
• Set aside. If needed, put through a sieve to remove larger saffron threads. 
• Add oil to a large pan on medium/high heat.
• Once the oil is hot, add the flour and mix continuously until the flour has thickened and changed color. 
• Once the flour has darkened, add the rosewater syrup. Stir quickly and continuously until the syrup is fully absorbed.  
• Place the Halva on a plate, and let cool for 10 minutes. Use cookie cutters, if desired, to make individual servings.
• Garnish with crushed pistachios. 

How to Serve Persian Halva

Persian Halva is delicious served with a cup of Persian tea called chaie. Halva is traditionally served for funerals, memorials, and other ceremonial events. It is one of my favorite desserts and you can use small pastry cutters to serve your Persian Halva bite size. For more Persian desserts, see these other recipes also on the blog:

• Zaban
• Persian Love Cake
• Cardamom Rosewater Rice Cookies
• Cake Yazdi
• Sholeh Zard
• Shrini-e-Papioni
• Qottab

Did you make this recipe? Take a picture and tag us on Instagram @plant_basedpersian or share it on Pinterest!

“Where there is love, nothing is too much trouble and there is always time.” – Abdul-Baha

Print