A traditional Pakistani and Indian dessert, habshi halwa is a rich milk halwa variety that is typically made by combining milk, sugar, sprouted wheat, ghee, aromatic spices, and nuts. This beloved sweet treat is usually flavored with cardamom, saffron, rose water, or kewra essence, and its crunchy texture comes from crushed nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and cashews.

The word habshi in the name of this sweet dish has to do with the halwa’s distinctive dark brown hue, as the Urdu habshi relates to the Persian or Arabic habashi, which is used as a reference to Africans or persons with a darker skin tone.

Sticky, chewy, and nutty, habshi halwa is believed to have been invented in the Mughal era, and it is a common winter treat that is usually consumed as a dessert after a big meal.