Halawa

Halawa

　　Halawa

　　Halawa (حلوي) is the transliteration of an Arabic word meaning "sweet." Halawa is a traditional sweet dessert of the Hui people in Ningxia. The method involves heating sesame oil, then adding flour and stir-frying until cooked. Brown sugar, honey, and fine salt are added and mixed evenly. A wooden mold (made from jujube wood boards, with evenly spaced 2.5 cm square, 1 cm deep patterns on the wide surface, such as fan shapes, coins, leaves, and plum blossoms) is used to fill the sweet mixture. Press it firmly with your thumb, then flip it over and firmly tap it on the dough board to release the shaped mixture. Arrange the formed pieces neatly on a plate to complete the process.