Sago Halawa

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Sago halawa is a Qatari sweet pudding made with sago pearls, sugar, water, and butter (or ghee). It is flavored with cardamom, saffron, and rosewater and often garnished with walnuts or other nuts. The sago pearls are soaked in water for a few hours, then strained and added to the pot with sugar that's been previously caramelized. Next, the aromatics and the butter are added, and the mixture is stirred briefly over heat. The finished pudding is divided between bowls, garnished with walnuts or pistachios, and served chilled. Besides Qatar, sago halawa can also be found in other Gulf countries.