Velvet

Salep (Sahlab): Thick Hot Milk with Orange Blossom and Cinnamon

Inspired by techniques from Serious Eats.

Salep · Levantine

A thick, creamy hot drink infused with orange blossom and vanilla, topped with cinnamon and pistachios.

Prep5 min
Cook10 min
Total15 min
DifficultyEasy
Per serving238 kcal
FreeGluten-freeVegetarian
Servings4Recipe makes 4
Allergens (EU 14)
GlutenCrustaceansEggsFishPeanutsSoybeansMilkTree nutsCeleryMustardSesameSulphitesLupinMolluscs

Always check the labels of the products you use.

Method

  1. 1

    Slurry. Whisk 24 g cornflour with 3 tbsp cold water in a small bowl to a smooth slurry.

  2. 2

    Heat. In a saucepan, warm 960 ml whole milk, 40 g sugar and a pinch of fine salt over medium heat, stirring, until it steams and small bubbles form at the edge.

  3. 3

    Thicken. Whisk the slurry again and pour it into the milk in a thin stream, whisking all the time; keep whisking on medium-low until it thickens to the consistency of thin custard and coats a spoon, 3–5 min, being careful not to let it catch.

  4. 4

    Flavour. Off the heat, stir in 2 tsp orange blossom water and 1 tsp vanilla; taste and add sugar if needed.

  5. 5

    Serve. Ladle into mugs, dust with 1 tsp ground cinnamon and scatter 2 tbsp chopped pistachios; drink hot.

Storage

Serve immediately whilst hot. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • whisk
  • small bowl
  • 4 mugs

Nutrition per serving (estimated values)

Per servingAmount
Energy238 kcal
Protein8.6 g
Carbohydrate29.1 g
of which sugars22.9 g
of which free sugars10.1 g
Fat9.8 g
of which saturates4.8 g
Fibre0.8 g
Salt0.44 g

Protein per 100 kcal

3.6 g High Protein needs ≥ 10 g

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values