Sahlab Recipe (Sahlab Powder) (2024)

Published: Feb 7, 2023 Updated: Oct 27, 2023 Author: Roxana Begum· This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Sahlab is a creamy and delicious beverage with a thin pudding like consistency. Often flavored with orange blossom and cinnamon, this is easy to make and so soothing. I have a sahlab powder recipe and delicious variations (chocolate)!

Table of Contents

What is Sahlab or Salep?

Sahlab, a popular middle eastern beverage, traditionally made with a starchy flour prepared from the tubers of certain wild orchids. The starch in those tubers contains the polysaccharide glucomannan.

The origins of this beverage were in the erstwhile Ottoman empire, through which it became widely popular in the middle east, eastern Mediterranean and all the way to Europe.

Further, due to the popularity of this drink, that specific variety of wild orchids have been over used, bringing them to the brink of extinction. Therefore, Sahlab drink powder made with real orchids is never exported and is in fact illegal.

What does Sahlab Taste Like?

The beverage is like a very thin pudding in consistency, with tiny crushed toppings, which you would relish like in a fruit punch.

A hot steaming, milky sahlab is a treat in wintertime, rainy days or just anytime. Think of it as a great alternative for hot chocolate or egg nog during the holidays. I had this delicious drink at cafes in the middle east and was hooked on it. So I had to try making it at home.

Recipe Ingredients

This is what you need for this middle eastern milk pudding beverage.

Milk: You can usewhole milk,reduced fat, or plant based milk.
Corn Starch: This is the thickener. Potato starch is an option. You could also try ground barley powder.
Sweetener: Honey, maple syrup, sugar or sweetener of your choice.
Flavors: Use orange blossom water to flavor the milk. You can use rose water instead. Add vanilla for an extra special touch.
Ground cinnamon: Sprinkle this on top. Try ground cardamom for a change.
Toppings:
- Desiccated coconut is available online and at Indian or middle eastern stores. You can try shredded coconut.
- Chopped walnutsor pistachios
- Finely chopped dried fruitssuch as raisins, dried apricots or cherries (optional).

How To Make Sahlab

**Brief overview here. Full recipe is at the end of post. Sahlab powder recipe also included.

Whisk milk, cornstarch and sweetener. Bring it to a slow boil at medium heat, stirring in between.
Cook until thick like heavy cream consistency. Stir in vanilla and orange blossom water.
Serve it steaming hot in cups, topped with crushed nuts or desiccated coconut and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

Top Tips

Make sure to stir in between so that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
Don't make it too thick. It should be pourable.

Readymade Mixes

This beverage is sold as a street food, in the cafes and coffee shops of the middle east and mediterranean. Outside of that region, one has to rely on sahlab powder mixes which taste artificial and don't use the real salep orchid anyway. But it is very easy to make sahlab powder at home.

Sahlab Powder Recipe

Combine the following ingredients in the amounts listed. Store it in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark and dry place. Use it in 2 months. You could even try this idea for making a hot chocolate mix.

1 cup milk powder, I use nido brand whole milk powder
½ cup coconut milk powder, or ground dried coconut (but this will give it some texture)
½ cup rice flour, corn starch may work as substitute
½ cup powdered sugar, optional, or use sweetener of your choice
¼cupcorn starch
2 teaspoons vanilla sugar, Dr Oetker
½ teaspoon mastic, optional, crushed using mortar and pestle, or ½ teaspoon vanilla

If you don't have coconut milk powder (available online), substitute with regular whole milk powder. Mastic gum is a plant resin with a nutty flavor and is widely used in middle eastern desserts and drinks. It is available at middle eastern stores.

Use 3 to 4 tablespoons of the above mix per cup milk. Flavor with orange blossom water and sweeten to your taste with honey, if the mix does not include sugar.

Egyptian style (optional): Add 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds. Use 1 tablespoon extra sesame seeds as topping per cup of sahlab drink.

Variations

Sahlab recipe is gluten free, vegetarian, low sodium, soy free, egg free and grain free.

Recipe FAQs

What are common sahlab flavors?

Most often it is flavored with orange blossom and with a dusting of ground cinnamon on top. But in Lebanon and Egypt they usually make it with rose water. In Greece, they sometimes use ground ginger.

Often it is topped with shredded coconut and/or crushed walnuts. But you can also try finely chopped dried fruit such as raisins, dried apricots and cranberries. The Egyptian sahlab is often topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Check the non-traditional variations above in the blog post.

Is sahlab good for you?

This is a light and comforting dessert with a good amount of high quality protein. It has the omega-3 fatty acids from the walnuts. You can it sweeten with dates or honey to skip refined sugar! It is also topped with extra nuts and dried fruits for your good health.

What goes well with sahlab?

It is good by itself. You don't need anything else with it. But if you do want something more, then serve it with salty snacks, crackers or light cookies such as almond biscotti.

More Middle Eastern Desserts

Mahalabia with Chia Seeds
Date Walnut Dessert
Rice Custard With Jello
Persian Marzipan Candy

★DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE COMMENT AND GIVE IT A STAR RATING BELOW!

5 from 4 votes

Sahlab Recipe (Sahlab Powder)

Sahlab is a creamy and delicious beverage with a thin pudding like consistency. Often flavored with orange blossom and cinnamon, this is easy to make and so soothing. Sahlab powder recipe in the notes below and more delicious variations in blog post!

Ingredients

▢ 3 cups whole milk reduced fat, or plant based milk
▢ 3 tablespoons corn starch
▢ 1½ tablespoons honey maple syrup or 2 tablespoons sugar
▢ 1½ tablespoons orange blossom water rose water or 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
▢ ⅓ teaspoon ground cinnamon
▢ 1 tablespoon desiccated coconut shredded coconut
▢ 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts or pistachios
▢ 1½ tablespoons finely chopped dried fruits optional, raisins, dried apricots or cherries

US Customary - Metric

Equipment

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, whisk milk, corn starch and honey until well combined.
Bring it to a slow boil at medium heat, stirring often, and making sure that the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the saucepan.
Cook until it reaches a very creamy and thin pudding like consistency, about 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and remove from stove.
Stir in orange blossom water. Adjust the sweetener and flavors to your taste.
Serve it steaming hot in cups and top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon, shredded coconut, crushed nuts and dried fruit (if using).

Notes

Orange blossom water, rose water, desiccated coconut and cardamom are available at Indian or Middle eastern grocery stores and online. Check blog post for tips, recipe FAQs and variations.

Chocolate Option: Cook with some cocoa (1 tablespoon per cup) or stir in melted chocolate and top with crushed toasted hazelnuts.

Sahlab Powder Recipe

Combine the following ingredients in a mixing bowl. Store in an airtight glass jar in a cool, dark and dry place. Use it in 2 months.

- 1 cup milk powder, I use nido whole milk powder

- ½ cup coconut milk powder, or ground dried coconut (but this will give it some texture)

- ½ cup rice flour, corn starch may work as substitute

- ½ cup powdered sugar, optional, or use sweetener of your choice

- ¼cupcorn starch

- 2 teaspoons vanilla sugar, Dr Oetker

- ½ teaspoon mastic, optional, crushed using mortar and pestle, or ½ teaspoon vanilla

Use 3 to 4 tablespoons of the above mix per cup milk. Flavor with orange blossom water and sweeten to your taste with honey, if the mix does not have sugar.

Egyptian style (optional): Add 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds. Use 1 tablespoon extra sesame seeds as topping per cup of sahlab.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @thedeliciouscrescent or tag #thedeliciouscrescent!

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This post was first published on December 23, 2016 and has been updated with improvements in pictures, tips, FAQs and additional enhancements.