Karabij halab

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

A sweet specialty hailing from Aleppo, karabij halab is a semolina flour cookie filled with a crunchy nut mixture and flavored with rose and orange blossom water. This sweet treat is typically made with semolina flour dough, topped with a mixture of ground pistachios or walnuts, sugar, ghee, cinnamon, and fragrant water, pinched closed, and then baked until nicely colored. Karabij halab, named after Halab - Aleppo’s ancient name, is typically shaped by hand, but it can also be molded in special, carved molds. The dessert is usually accompanied by natef - a type of white cream made from soapwort root - and is traditionally prepared on special occasions and holidays, such as Eid Al-Fitr. Although these Syrian cookies can be made at home, they are more commonly bought in numerous pastry shops selling them throughout the country, as making them can be a bit tricky due to the crumbly semolina dough.