I remember making this once but I made the very unhealthy version of this halwa and it was ages ago. As you know this blog came about for people like me that has gotten off of white sugar and stayed off. As a result I can breathe better and I even shed a few pounds. Also my triglycerides went back to normal.
I am also spreading the word too for everyone else to join me in to trying to eat healthy. Ok I try to eat a proper diet with portion control and I got out of that horrible habit of overeating. I had a real long talk with myself like I did when I gave up smoking many years ago.
It is so good and yummy even Mr. Riaz really enjoyed this. At last even people in my family plus great friends from the net and irl can indulge in a guilt free craving once in a great while.
I was researching different Indian and Pakistani blogs on how to make this halwa. Their methods does not work for me and I am going to show you a fool proof method on how to make this halwa and it is so very simple.
I added a little cooking spray first to a pyrex container and set it aside. This would keep the halwa from sticking. I added 1 oz of corn or canola oil to a cast iron skillet or wok. I heated up the oil until it got hot then shut it off. I did not want the oil to get to smoking point. I added 1 handful of nuts of choice to mortar and pestle to crush.
The nuts of choice are cashews, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and peanuts. You can even add 3 pinches of shredded coconut and pumpkin seeds with the shells removed. We call these char marghs which means four brains. Make sure the coconut is unsweetened.
Add the crushed nuts of choice to the oil and fry until slightly brown and turn off heat because you do not want them to burn.
Add 3 green cardamoms to mortar and pestle then grind then add to a bowl that is big enough to hold cereal. To this you add 3 tbs of cornstarch. This is found everywhere. Add 1 pinch of the halal food coloring of choice such as; yellow, orange, green, blue and red. These can be found in any Indian and Pakistani grocery store. Add 1 drop each of kewra and rose essence, this too can be found in Indian and Pakistani grocery stores too along with the cardamom.
Add 2 1/2 cups of water a little at a time while stirring to avoid getting lumps. When you have a lump free slurry add 1/4 of a cup of agave nectar or sugar free syrup. Zayed brand is very good and it doesn’t have a nasty aftertaste. This can be found where Middle Eastern groceries are at. Just google for the nearest store near you and you can find what you are looking for.
Stir again, turn heat on to low and add the slurry mixture to the oil and nuts and keep stirring to avoid burns. It starts to thicken and just keep stirring until all of it is cooked. If you see some oil seeping out of the halwa and it is one solid mass, it means it is done. Oops when done spread on the pyrex dish sprayed with cooking spray and spread it out so it looks more like a cake. Let it cool and cut in to squares and enjoy.
Make this for next time you have a party like for Eid, a wedding, a new baby, a graduation or any other type of happy event.
I am going to do other variants of this recipe and post on Instagram only and you will be directed back to this page here in my blog.
Diabetics please do not forget to check your sugar levels on a regular basis because It is very important.
