Besan ka Halwa – I am making this 30 Minutes Easy Mithai for Diwali again.What are you making?
Diwali – the Indian Festival of Lights comes and goes every year… And we welcome this grand celebration every year.. This festival has got so many customs and celebrated differently throughout India. Every state, Every region has their own rituals, their own customs… Some celebrated over 5 days, some over 2 days..
But there are some Diwali rituals common across most of the subcontinent. Be it Urban or City, pretty candles or small clay oil lamps are lit at the thresholds of homes, workplaces etc to celebrate the return of the Hindu god, Lord Rama, to his kingdom after 14 years in exile. ( According to Hindu Mythology )
A celebration is absolutely incomplete without homemade mithai and savories.. Every year, I have been making 3 Indian Sweets and 2 Savories that can be relished over the festive days.. To begin with, its going to be Besan ka Halwa ( Gram Flour Pudding )
Being in UK, this festival of lights falls on Thursday 19th next week and we really do not have any holidays for this celebration.. But we do enjoy them with friends and families over the weekends, decking ourselves in Indian Attire, loads of chatter and laughter over traditional Indian Meals and bursting some Noiseless crackers..
Preparing Sweetmeats are a must and I often prefer some real quick Sweets like this 20 Minutes Kesar Peda and now this 30 Minutes Besan Ka Halwa.
Well whats Besan ka Halwa?? Heloo.. Have you heard of Gram Flour.. Well that’s it. Its a Gram Flour Pudding made with basic sweet ingredients like Milk, Sugar, Ghee, Cardamom Powder. If you like you can go overboard with nuts too or even leave it.
Simple as it sounds isn’t it!! I don’t make it often but whenever I make it its just with eyeball measurements.. When ASDA asked me what sweet am I making for Diwali this year? I told them instantly Besan ka Halwa.
Again, when I am recipe testing for my perfect Besan ka Halwa, I made them 3 times in 2 days .. Yes Yes.. My first and the last attempt was perfect and the same color. I will not recommend any alterations in the steps as that affects the natural color of the Halwa and partially the taste too.
BESAN KA HALWA
Time Taken 30 Minutes: Serves 6
INGREDIENTS
1 cup Gram Flour
1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp ghee ( Either Store bought or make ghee at home)
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
11/4 – 11/2 Cup Whole Milk
Pistachio & Almonds for garnishing
DIRECTIONS
In a deep bottom pan, melt 1/4 cup of ghee in a pan. Add gram flour and dry roast gram flour in low flame by constantly stirring until the color begins to change and gram flour leaves a nutty aroma. (Approximately 12-14 minutes)
Add milk a little by little and keep stirring the mixture continuously, ensuring the mixture stays smooth.
Add Sugar, mix well and keep stirring the mixture until halwa reaches the right consistency.
Add 2tbsp ghee, cardamom powder and stir well.
Serve the halwa hot or cold. Garnish with Saffron strands, chopped nuts.
Variations:
I have also tried adding 1/2 Cup of Almond Powder to the Halwa after adding the milk. It tastes rich and fabulous.
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