Irmek Helvasi Recipe

I had this the first time at Sultan Ahmet in Istanbul, at a kufta joint. They sell this and kufta - that's it.

I've modified the recipe to make it a bit more healthy, substituting coconut oil for butter, and honey for sugar.

The traditional recipe calls for pine nuts. However, I once got Pine Mouth for a week after eating pine nuts, and so I avoid them. Pine mouth is where everything tastes very bitter. (This is a real disease.) It was one of the strangest maladies that I've ever had. I prefer the taste of the sun flower seeds instead.

Directions

Combine semolina flour and oil in a sauce pan. Cook on medium heat for about 15-20 minutes. Constantly stirring. As the oil melts it forms a paste. The semolina will be a light brown color.

Stir in sunflower seeds or pine nuts, and raisins and chopped dried fruit.

Stir in honey and water until the semolina absorbs it. It should look like porridge.

Pour into a bread pan, or casserole dish, and use a rubber spatula, to form it and press it down into a loaf.

Let it cool down, or serve warm. Serve by slicing thin pieces onto a dish. It can be topped with cream or honey, or berries.