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Dessert Vegetarian

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥450kcal
💪4gProtein
🌾65gCarbs
🥑20gFat
🌿3gFibre
⚖️100 gServing

* Per serving · 100 g. May vary.

Allergens

🥜 Nuts

Xalwo

How to order / say it
Say it Xalwo — [HAL-wo]
Order I'd like to order Xalwo Assal, please.
Locally أود طلب حلوى عسل، من فضلك.
Say locally

A sweet and dense Djiboutian dessert made with honey and nuts.

Why try it?

Xalwo Assal is a sweet treat that embodies the sweetness of Djibouti's hospitality, influenced by the bee colonies around Lake Assal.

How it tastes

It offers a rich and syrupy sweetness, a crunchy texture from the nuts, and a floral aroma of honey. Best served with coffee or tea.

Origin & History — first documented: 1910

Around the early 20th century, as honey production increased near Lake Assal, local cooks began using honey in traditional sweets, giving birth to this beloved halwa variant.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🍯 300 ml honey
  • 🍯 200 g sugar
  • 🥜 100 g almonds
  • 🥛 50 g butter
  • 🧂 1 tsp cardamom

Method

  1. 1 Melt butter in a pot, then add sugar and honey and stir until dissolved.
  2. 2 Add cardamom and almonds, mixing thoroughly over low heat.
  3. 3 Pour the mixture into a greased tray, let it cool, cut into squares, and serve.
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