Sahlab is a popular drink in Lebanon and the countries that were part of the Ottoman empire. It is prepared from the tubers of a rare orchid flower by drying the tubers then grounding them into a fine powder. Sahlab powder is rich with aromas and gives the drink a smooth and fluffy texture. Today, when real sahlab powder is not available, it is substituted with corn or potato starch. A sahlab mixture is also available in supermarkets, and is easy to prepare.
Total Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 mns
Ingredients:
4 cups of milk
3 tsp. of sugar
1 tsp. of sahlab
1 tsp. of orange blossom water (mazaher)
Cinnamon to decorate
Preparation steps:
- In a saucepan, mix the sugar with 3 cups of milk and bring to a simmer while stirring
- Dissolve the sahlab in the remaining cup of milk, then add to the milk and sugar
- Keep on stirring until the solution thickens and becomes sticky
- Stir in the mazaher and mix
- Transfer the sahlab to cups
- Sprinkle the cinnamon powder on the sahlab and serve while hot with kaak orchali or cookies