Iraqi Date Halwa
Soft dates cooked with ghee, pure tahini, cardamom and a single divided walnut allowance.
Preparation: 10 min · Cooking: 12 min · Total: 40 min · 2 servings
Ingredients
- 360 ml soft pitted chopped ready-to-eat dates
- 60 ml commercial ready-to-eat pure sesame tahini
- 0.25 tsp ground cardamom
- 60 ml ready-to-eat chopped walnuts, 45 ml mixed + 15 ml garnish
- 30 ml ghee
Instructions
Measure the ingredients
Measure 360 ml dates, 60 ml pure ready-to-eat tahini, 30 ml ghee, 0.25 tsp cardamom and 60 ml ready-to-eat walnuts. Dates are measured by volume, not an inferred 450 g.
Dates are measured by volume, not an inferred 450 g.
Measure the ingredients
Divide the walnut allowance into 45 ml for the mixture and 15 ml reserved garnish; no extra walnuts, separate sesame seeds or syrup is listed.
Divide the walnut allowance into 45 ml for the mixture and 15 ml reserved garnish; no extra walnuts, separate sesame seeds or syrup is listed.
Heat gently
Melt all 30 ml ghee over medium-low heat in a suitable skillet without smoking.
Melt all 30 ml ghee over medium-low heat in a suitable skillet without smoking.
Simmer and check
Add the dates and mash continuously with a sturdy spoon, beginning checks at 8 minutes, often around 8–10 minutes, until soft and cohesive without scorching.
Add the dates and mash continuously with a sturdy spoon, beginning checks at 8 minutes, often around 8–10 minutes, until soft and cohesive without scorching.
Simmer and check: 480 seconds
Add the aromatics
Stir in 0.25 tsp cardamom evenly. The hot mixture is a burn hazard, not something to knead with bare hands.
The hot mixture is a burn hazard, not something to knead with bare hands.
Mix the base
Add the 60 ml pure ready-to-eat tahini and mix from about 2 minutes until evenly incorporated into a soft fudge-like mass. This is a texture step, not validated sterilization of untreated sesame.
This is a texture step, not validated sterilization of untreated sesame.
Mix the base: 120 seconds
Mix the base
Fold in the allocated 45 ml ready-to-eat walnuts, keeping the reserved 15 ml separate, then remove from heat.
Fold in the allocated 45 ml ready-to-eat walnuts, keeping the reserved 15 ml separate, then remove from heat.
Assemble the dish
Transfer into a shallow food-grade heat-compatible serving dish and smooth with a clean spoon. Distribute the reserved 15 ml walnuts over the top.
Distribute the reserved 15 ml walnuts over the top.
Cool promptly
Let the mixture set only until safe to portion, then refrigerate shallow portions within 1 hour at ≤4°C. Do not wait hours for complete room-temperature cooling or promise ambient shelf stability.
Do not wait hours for complete room-temperature cooling or promise ambient shelf stability.
Measure the ingredients
Half uses 180 ml dates, 30 ml tahini, 15 ml ghee, 0.125 tsp cardamom and walnuts 22.5 + 7.5 ml. For 8 servings use 1440 ml dates, 240 ml tahini, 120 ml ghee, 1 tsp cardamom and walnuts 180 + 60 ml.
For 8 servings use 1440 ml dates, 240 ml tahini, 120 ml ghee, 1 tsp cardamom and walnuts 180 + 60 ml.
Serve and store
Serve 2 portions when safe to eat and use refrigerated leftovers within 2 days. Reheat at most once to 74°C if desired; no winter-health benefit or validated shelf life is claimed.
Reheat at most once to 74°C if desired; no winter-health benefit or validated shelf life is claimed.
Tips
- Instructions describe the base 2-serving batch. Controls scale the ingredient list to 1 or 8 servings, exactly half or fourfold. One cup is 240 ml, one tbsp 15 ml, one tsp 5 ml; dry volumes are not gram weights. Use equivalent vessels and manageable batches; timers are first checks, not linear cooking rules.
Common mistakes
- Do not add unlisted fat, liquid or garnishes or rely on a fixed time or browned surface alone.
Substitutions
- Keep the stated source states and explicit alternatives; check product instructions and allergens.
Storage
Refrigerate promptly in shallow portions within 1 hour at ≤4°C; use within 2 days from preparation, including cooling. This is a conservative household limit, not a validated shelf life.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers at most once to 74°C throughout and serve promptly; keep unused portions refrigerated.
About this recipe
Soft dates cooked with ghee, pure tahini, cardamom and a single divided walnut allowance.
Editorial approval does not establish independent kitchen testing. Check allergens and follow safe food handling.