In Palestinian cuisine, hilbeh, hulbah, or fenugreek cake is a dessert made from fenugreek seeds, olive oil, and semolina, topped with nuts, nigella seeds, or sesame, then coated in sugar syrup, which soaks into the cake.
Etymology
It is named after the Arabic name for fenugreek, which is hilba (). Thus, the name hilbeh can refer to different dishes that use fenugreek; for example, there is a drink called hilbeh, and a condiment named hilbeh. Sometimes the name 'fenugreek cake' is used instead in the English language. It is sometimes referred to as saniyit hulba (). ==Ingredients and preparation==
Ingredients and preparation
The fenugreek seeds need to be soaked in water for a while before being used to remove any bitter taste. ==Consumption==
Consumption
Hilbeh is particularly popular in Palestine, but it is described as a "love it or hate it" dish. One of the factors limiting its popularity is the smell associated with fenugreek, caused by the chemical compound sotolon. ===Traditional medicine=== Fenugreek is believed to have various medicinal properties, such as improving blood flow, and aiding in breast feeding. ==See also==