BY: Hala Atirah/Contributing Writer
Sahlab is a body-warming, sugary pudding, and one of the most famous desserts in the Arab world and Turkey. It is a traditional winter dessert that dates back to the Ottoman Empire, when Levantine Arabs lived under Turkish rule. Sahlab also became very popular in countries like England and Germany with the rise of Arabian coffee and tea throughout Europe three centuries ago.
On cold days and nights, Arabs drink sahlab to stay warm and indulge in a sweet drink. It has a creamy taste that offers happiness with every sip, similar to the way Americans cherish hot cocoa.
Sahlab is considered to be a very healthy beverage, too, because it contains nutrients that cure digestive problems and gum disease. It is also believed that sahlab helps increase resistance to cold and flu symptoms in the winter months.
The tasty dessert is made from the orchid tubers of the orchid plant, which are dried to make sahlab powder. Today, anyone can purchase sahlab powder from Middle Eastern markets to make the drink at home. Sahlab is very easy to prepare. It can be made either with hot milk or hot water, and then topped with cinnamon and pistachios, which make the dessert richer and more nutritious.
Try making this Arab dessert at home with the recipe below.
Sahlab Recipe
Ingredients:
5 cups of Milk
1 cup of sugar
3 table spoon of cornstarch
½ tea spoon of rose water
Cinnamon
Coconut
Pistachio
Preparation:
Mix the milk, sugar, cornstarch, and rosewater together.
Optional: Sprinkle cinnamon, coconut shavings, and pistachio grinds on top.
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