Sahlab

Name: Sahlab
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Levantine
Ingredients: 5 cups milk; 4 tablespoons Salep powder; 1/4 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon orange blossom water; 1/4 cup crushed pistachios; a pinch ground cinnamon; 1/4 cup Coconut

Hot milk thickened with sahlab and scented with orange blossom water, with pistachios, cinnamon and coconut.

Vegetarian

Cooking time: 20 min
Hands-on time: 20 min
Difficulty: Easy
Cuisine: Levantine
Calories: 260
Contains: Nuts, Dairy

The creamy cup of winter. The step that makes the difference is dissolving the powder in cold milk first, then pouring it into the hot milk while stirring, because powder added straight to hot milk forms lumps that never dissolve.

Before you start

Before you beginRead the steps completely, measure the ingredients, and prepare the tools before turning on the heat or oven.
Timing the servingPrepare what you can in advance and leave the final touches until serving time to maintain the texture.

Ingredients

4people

Amounts follow the number of people

for salep

5 cups milk
4 tablespoons Salep powder — or starch
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon orange blossom water

For the topping

1/4 cup crushed pistachios
a pinch ground cinnamon
1/4 cup Coconut — optional

The quantity can be doubled, adjusting the sweetness after tasting, and adding ice to each cup when serving.

Equipment

Medium pot — A heavy base stops the milk catching as it heats.
Hand whisk — Constant stirring is what stops it going lumpy when the cold mix goes in.

Method

Mix the salep powder and sugar with a cup of cold milk until completely dissolved.
4 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
There are no lumps in the mixture.
Tip: Adding the powder to hot milk creates lumps that never dissolve.
Heat the remaining milk until it is almost boiling, then gradually pour the cold mixture into it while stirring constantly.
10 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The milk has begun to thicken and coat the spoon.
Add the orange blossom water and stir for a minute, then pour it into the cups.
3 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The texture is creamy and flows slowly.
Sprinkle with pistachios, cinnamon, and coconut, and serve hot.
3 min
You’ll know it’s ready when
The top is covered and the drink is hot.