Sahlab Drink

Sahlab or salep is a popular winter drink in Syria and throughout the Middle East. It is white, warm and starchy creamy drink that is dusted with a little cinnamon

Sahlab is prepared using milk, mastic, orange blossom water and sahlab powder.  This White powder is made from the tubers of orchids (called sahlabiat in Arabic hence the name sahlab).

Ingredients:

1- 4 cups (1 Liter) milk

2- 4-5 tablespoons sugar (you can use more or less according to your preference)

3- 2 teaspoons Sahlab powder

4- 1/4 teaspoon ground Mastic

5- 1 tablespoon Orange blossom water

For garnish:

ground cinnamon and shredded coconut.

Directions:

1- Place the milk in a saucepan but set aside 1/2 first.

2- Add sugar and mastic, stir over medium heat and bring to a simmer.

3- In a small bowl, mix the sahlab powder with the 1/2 cup of milk you set aside earlier and stir until it dissolves completely.

4- Pour the sahlab/milk mixture into the saucepan and whisk vigorously on low heat to avoid the formation of any lumps. Keep whisking for around 5 minutes until the milk thickens.

5- Turn off the heat and add the orange blossom water and mix.

Pour Sahlab into serving cups and garnish with cinnamon and coconut.

Lara Khouli