How to Make Easy Lebanese Desserts (Helo)

Today’s lesson is a delicious one! We’re diving into the world of Lebanese sweets, or Helo (حلو), by preparing two very simple and quick recipes that you can find in any local grocery store (dekken) in Lebanon.

Learn about classic treats like Raha wa Biskot (Turkish delight with biscuits) and Arous Haleweh (a sweet bread wrap), and discover some of the essential ingredients in the Lebanese pantry.

Full Transcript: A Guide to Lebanese Sweets

1. Raha wa Biskot (Turkish Delight & Biscuits)

This is a classic children’s dessert that is incredibly simple to make.

Ingredients:

• RaHa (راحة), also known as Hal’oom ( حلقوم) or Turkish delight.
• Biskwee (بسكويت) or Baskot (بسكوت) – Biscuits.

Instructions:

1. Take two biscuits.
2. Place one piece of Raha between them.
3. Press firmly without breaking the biscuits.

Note: RaHa (راحة) means “relax” and Hal’oom (حلقوم) means “throat.”

2. Sanyoura (A Famous Lebanese Sweet)

Before the next dessert, let’s talk about a famous Lebanese sweet called Sanyoura (سنيورة).

It’s a delicious biscuit-like sweet that comes in two types: one plain and one filled with pistachio. It is famously from Saida (Sidon), a city well-known for its Lebanese sweets.

3. Arous Haleweh (Sweet Bread Wrap)

This is a more sophisticated, yet still simple, dessert using Lebanese bread.

Ingredients:

• Lebanese Bread
• Haleweh (حلاوة) – A sweet made from sesame paste, or tHeeneh (طحينة).
• Banana: Moz (موز) (One banana is mawzeh – موزة).
• Honey: 3assal (عسل)
• Walnuts: Joz (جوز)

Instructions:

1. Open a piece of Lebanese bread.
2. Spread the Haleweh inside.
3. Add sliced banana, a drizzle of honey, and walnuts.
4. Roll it up tightly to create the 3aroos (عروس), or wrap.

4. Conversation at My Aunt’s House

Here is a short conversation that took place when I delivered the sweets to my aunt, Souad.

Hiba: Hi!
Souad: Ahla w sahla! Ahlein, ahlein. (أهلا وسهلا! أهلين أهلين) – Welcome! Welcome, welcome.
Hiba: Kifik 3amteh? (كيفك عمتي؟) – How are you, auntie?
Souad: El Hamdella, ahla w sahla, tfaddaleh. (الحمدلله، أهلا وسهلا، تفضلي) – Thank God, welcome, come in.
Hiba: Jebtellik Helo. (جبتلك حلو) – I brought you dessert.
Souad: Shou Helo! Surprise! RaHa, joz! RaH ekoul haydeh. Oh, comme c’est bon! Khay, Helo l waHad ykoun hek e3id, mesh 3am yeshteghil, te3ben, Hada yjeblo akel, w y’ello kol. (شو حلو! … رح إكل هيدي… خي، حلو الواحد يكون هيك قاعد، مش عم يشتغل، تعبان، حدا يجبلو أكل، ويقللو كل) – How lovely! Surprise! Raha, walnuts! I’m going to eat this one. Oh, it’s so good! Wow, it’s nice for one to be sitting like this, not working, tired, and for someone to bring them food and tell them, “eat.”
Hiba: Mazbout! (مظبوط!) – True!
Souad: Merci beaucoup! – Thank you very much!
Hiba: SaHtein! Haw l joz min wein? (صحتين! هَوْ الجوز من وين؟) – Bon appétit! Where are these walnuts from?
Souad: Haw min l Khyem, khaleh jeboun. Joz jnoubeh, min ardo, w haw min Saida. Joe ken 3endo ta3ezeh bl 40, jenneiz l 40, raH 3al Rmeich, w howe w rej3in howeh wel neis elli raHo, mara’o 3a Saida jebo min haw. Hay b ayya mnesabeh 3meltiya hal akleh hay? (هَوْ من الخيام، خاله جابون. جوز جنوبي، من أرضه، وهَوْ من صيدا… هي بأي مناسبة عملتيها هل أكلة هي؟) – These are from Khiam, their uncle brought them. Southern walnuts, from his land. And these (the Sanyoura) are from Saida. Joe had a 40th-day memorial service, he went to Rmeich, and on the way back, he and the people who went passed by Saida and brought some of these. For what occasion did you make this food?
Hiba: 3am ba3mil video. Khalas khallaset, ouleh bye. (عم بعمل فيديو. خلص خلّصت، قولي باي) – I’m making a video. That’s it, I’m done, say bye.

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Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Lebanese Phrase	Transliteration	English Meaning
حلو	Helo	Dessert / Pretty
راحة / حلقوم	RaHa / Hal’oom	Turkish Delight
بسكويت / بسكوت	Biskwee / Baskot	Biscuits
سنيورة	Sanyoura	A famous Lebanese sweet
حلاوة	Haleweh	A sweet paste made from sesame
طحينة	tHeeneh	Tahini / Sesame Paste
موز	Moz	Banana
عسل	3assal	Honey
جوز	Joz	Walnuts
عروس	3aroos	Wrap / Sandwich (lit. “bride”)
صحتين	SaHtein	Bon appétit / To your health