Halvah

This is not like the halvah I bought at the store. I think I like it even better though.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup rose water*
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 cup tahini
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
powdered sugar

Soak the shelled pistachios in water for ten minutes to soften the skins for easy removal, then chop.

In a medium sauce pan, combine sugar, rosewater, and lemon juice and stir. Insert a candy thermometer, turn the heat on medium and heat the mixture until it boils and the temperature reaches 240 degrees. Turn the heat off and cool the syrup for a couple of minutes.

In a small saucepan, insert thermometer. Heat tahini on  medium heat until the thermometer reaches 120 degrees. Be very careful not to burn it.

Slowly add tahini to the hot sugar syrup. Mix it with a whisk until everything is combined. Add vanilla flavoring and chopped pistachios and mix again until the mixture starts to thicken.

Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the pan. Cover it with aluminum foil or cling wrap and leave it in the  refrigerator for thirty six  hours. Then take it out and cut into squares, roll into balls, and dust with powdered sugar.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 36 g
Servings per Recipe: 24
Calories: 153 Calories from Fat: 83
Total Fat: 9.2g, 14% of Daily Value**
Saturated Fat: 1.3g, 6% of Daily Value
Sodium: 17mg, 1% of Daily Value
Total Carbohydrates: 16.5g, 6% of Daily Value
Dietary Fiber: 1.7g, 7% of Daily Value
Sugars 12.8g
Protein 3.1g

Vitamin A 1%

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Vitamin C 1%

Calcium 7%

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Iron 8%

* You can use plain water. Rosewater makes it awfully nice though. You can find it in better markets in the international foods aisles.
** Based on a 2000 calorie diet