Printed September 14, 2026
Savory Halva Porridge with Caramelized Fennel
Tahini-based halva melts into warm oats to create the creamiest porridge you've ever experienced, topped with fennel cooked until sweet and golden. Dessert for breakfast has never been this sophisticated.
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 3 cups water
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces plain or vanilla halva, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- Toasted pistachios
- Nigella seeds
- Flaky sea salt
Preparation
Halva—that crumbly, tahini-based confection—might seem like an odd breakfast ingredient, but in the Middle East, sesame paste has long been a morning staple. Here, we melt halva into steel-cut oats, where it dissolves into an impossibly creamy, nutty porridge that bridges sweet and savory.
Caramelize the Fennel
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced fennel and a pinch of salt.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes until the fennel is deeply golden and caramelized. It should be sweet and tender with crispy edges.
- Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with Aleppo pepper. Toss to coat and remove from heat. Keep warm.
Make the Halva Porridge
- While the fennel cooks, bring water, milk, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan.
- Stir in the steel-cut oats, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until oats are tender and creamy.
- Remove from heat and immediately stir in the crumbled halva. It will melt into the porridge, creating ribbons of sesame sweetness throughout. Stir until fully incorporated.
Assemble
Divide the porridge among bowls. Top each with a generous portion of caramelized fennel, a drizzle of tahini, toasted pistachios, nigella seeds, and a pinch of flaky sea salt. The combination is mesmerizing—nutty, sweet, aromatic, with textural contrast in every spoonful. This is comfort food that feels entirely new.
