Halva

In pre-Islamic Iran, a pudding called “sen” or “sahan” was made from wheat sprouts by Zoroastrians as a celebratory dish on the last day of the year to sustain the ancestors on their heavenward journey following their annual new year visit to earth. Halva, which means “sweet” in Arabic, may have come from this pudding, because it is still made for special occasions such as births and funerals. I have called the Persian halva a saffron brownie.