There is something about halwa that brings a smile on everyone’s face. These are bona fide comfort foods, have been part of everyone’s growing up happy rituals, and are very often made during the festivals for the simple reason that they are universally liked. This bhaiya dooj why not try something different and surprise your family.
Gluten Free Baked Halwa
Mix 3 cups cream with a pinch of cinnamon and keep aside. Beat 1 cup butter with 1 cup sugar until thick. Add 2 tsp cornflour. Whisk cream into the butter mixture. Add slivered almonds and mix gently. Pour into a buttered pan. Bake in preheated oven at 200 degrees C oven for 45 minutes. Meanwhile make a syrup by boiling 2½ cups sugar, 3 cups water, 1 stick cinnamon, 2 whole laung (cloves) for 10 minutes. Take out dalchini and laung and pour the syrup over hot halwa. Cool and serve.
Cheeku Halwa
Peel and crush 10 cheekus, add 1 cup mill and and boil, stirring constantly. When it thickens, add 150 gm khoya and cook, stirring constantly. Then add 1/4th cup sugar and 1 tbsp ghee an cook for 3-4 minutes more. Let it cool a bit, garnish with almonds and enjoy it hot.
Coconut Halwa
Soak 1/2 cup raw rice in water for 2 to 3 hours. Grind the soaked rice and 2 cups grated fresh coconut into a very fine paste with some water to a smooth paste and keep aside.
In a pan put 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water and boil till the sugar solution becomes thick. Then add a pinch of cardamom powder and coconut rice paste and keep stirring until it becomes thick and stick on the sides of the pan. Just before turning off the flame, add 1 tbsp ghee and mix well. garnish with some chopped cashew and raisins.
Pumpkin Halwa
Take 1 cup white pumpkin, coarsely grate it and drain off the excess moisture by squeezing using a cloth. Add 2 cups milk, 3/4th cup sugar and cook over low heat till the mixture becomes soft. Keep stirring constantly. Then add 1/2 cup ghee and cook more till it separates. Stir in elaichi (cardamom) seeds and cashew nuts. Spread the mixture in a greased tray and let it cool for 30 minutes. Then cut into squares.
Warm Lentil Cake with Honey
Take 100 gm lentil flour (any), add a pinch of salt, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda and strain it. Add 3 eggs and 10 tsp sugar. Pour it into a lined cake tin. Bake it at 180 degree centigrade for 35 minutes. Meanwhile reduce 30 ml honey on slow flame, add a cinnamon stick and enjoy the warm cake with honey
Move over dal halwa!
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