Halewit il Riz (Rice Delight)

View fullsize

View fullsize

Soft, sweet with a stretchy texture, this delicacy is a specialty of the city of Tripoli, North Lebanon. If you are lucky enough to visit and to get to taste it in one of the authentic pastry shops, you will be savoring a decadent treat that melts in your mouth telling the story of culinary inheritance through centuries.

Each bite is a symphony of flavors where the fragrant aromas of rose water and orange blossom water harmonizes beautifully with the earthy notes of mastic gum; an irresistible fusion that your taste buds will never forget!

Print

Halewit il Riz (Rice Delight)

Yield: 30 pieces

Author: Fida Milki

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup short grain rice
• 2 cups water
• 2 small pieces of mastic
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• Ashta (recipe on my Instagram page) (optional)
• Crushed pistachios

Instructions

1. Soak the rice in the water overnight.
2. The next day, place the rice with its soaking water in a saucepan and bring to a boil on high heat.
3. Lower the heat and let the rice simmer stirring occasionally until the water is absorbed but before the rice is sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. The rice should be mushy.
4. Insert a hand blender and purée the rice until smooth.
5. Crush the mastic with 1 tbsp of the sugar then add it to the rice purée in the saucepan with the rest of the sugar.
6. Return the saucepan to the heat and stir the mixture on low until the water has evaporated and the mixture has thickened. You need to be patient here as this might take around 50 minutes.
7. Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture cool.
8. Spread a third of the powdered sugar over the bottom of a container and place the rice mixture over it.
9. Cover with another third of the powdered sugar and place the container in the fridge to chill overnight. The next day, remove from the fridge.
10. Dust a working surface with the remaining powdered sugar.
11. Take a piece of the rice mixture and roll it into a ping pong ball on the dusted surface.
12. Flatten it into a thin disc and place it on a serving platter.
13. Top with 1 tbsp ashta if desired.
14. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
15. Garnish with pistachios, serve and enjoy!