Almond Halwa

in Desserts, Sweets

Recipe from Cook and see part – 1.

Sweets are an integral part of of every festive occasion. The variety of sweets in Indian cuisine is mind  boggling . Most of the  Indian sweets use  ghee , nuts , spices  milk and ofcourse sugar ,liberally . In this recipe Almonds are the main ingredient.

Ingredients

  • Almonds 350 gms,
  • Sugar 5 cups,
  • Water 2 cups, ( for cooking )
  • Ghee 2  cups,
  • Cashew Nuts 20 , (broken)
  • Cardamom Powder  1/ 2 teaspoon,
  • Saffron few strands (4 to 5),
  • Food colour  (optional) a pinch or two.
  • Pachaikarpooram  ( edible camphor )   a pinch (optional)

Method

  1. Soak the almonds in 6 cups of hot water, for 3 to 4 hours. Drain.
  2. Shallow fry the cashewnuts in 1 teaspoon of ghee. Dissolve the saffron in a tablespoon of milk. Mix colour too  , in a tablespoon of milk and keep aside .
  3. Afterwards, peel and grind to a smooth paste, adding little water.
  4. In a deep thick broad uruli or a deep pan, take sugar and add water. Mix well and cook , till it dissolves and  becomes a thick syrup .
  5. Check for  one thread consistency. Take a little of sugar syrup between two fingers and stretch. If it forms a single thick thread , it reached the stage.
  6. Add almond paste at this stage and continue stirring.  Add saffron. Stir.
  7. The almond paste will harden as it cooks and  the moisture is absorbed.
  8. Add ghee little by little. Mix well.
  9. Continue to cook in low heat. Add the fried cashew nuts .
  10. The halwas will roll in the pan as one single mass and start oozing ghee. Remove at this time and cool.
  11. Add cardamom powder , edible camphor and colour , at this stage if using . Mix well.
  12. Delicious halwa is ready.

Note

  1.  Almonds contain fat ,so use ghee judiciously, while making halwa. The halwa may need less ghee than given in the recipe.
  2. While grinding the almond paste , add milk ( 2 cups ), instead of water to make the halwa tastier.