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5.0 from 30 votes

Besan Halwa

Made with simple ingredients of gram flour, ghee, sugar, this rich and aromatic cardamom infused Besan Halwa is a quick dessert that can be made ready within minutes.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 298 kcal
Course: Dessert , Breakfast
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup gram flour (besan) can use fine or coarse ladoo besan, 100 grams
  • 1/2 cup ghee divided, 100 grams
  • 3 tablespoon milk warm
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar 100 grams, adjust to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cardamom powder (Elaichi)
  • Saffron (Kesar) few strands, optional
  • 2-3 tablespoon mixed nuts slivered, divided (cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Take a small pot (preferably with a handle) and add water, sugar, cardamom and saffron. Heat it on a medium-high heat until the sugar melts. Turn off the flame and keep it aside.
  2. Heat a pan on medium flame and add ghee. Once the ghee has melted, add the besan flour.
  3. Turn the flame to medium-low and roast the besan while stirring continuously until it starts turning golden brown. It will take about 12-15 minutes or more to fully roast the besan and your kitchen will be filled with a delicious nutty aroma.
  4. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time while stirring continuously. The mixture will fluff up when you add the milk. This step helps to give the halwa a little grainy texture.
  5. Pour in water and sugar mixture little by little while stirring continuously. Be careful as there will be some splatter when you initially start pouring, but that will stop once the syrup mixes with the besan. 
  6. The halwa will start to boil and thicken. Continue stirring. 
  7. When it is just thickened, stir in a tablespoon of ghee for the extra richness.
  8. The halwa is ready when it starts to leave the sides of the pan. Remove from flame. Garnish with nuts. Serve immediately. 

Notes

  • Which besan to use? If you can find ladoo besan, which is course, use that for this halwa recipe as it gives a grainy texture to the final dish. Otherwise, regular besan will work too. 
  • You can also use the "Dhrabo" method to get the grainy texture for the halwa. Add gram flour, 1 tablespoon milk, and 1 tablespoon ghee in a small mixing bowl and mix well. Allow for a 30-minute resting period. After 30 minutes, sieve the mixture with a medium-hole strainer to get a consistent grainy texture to the besan.
  • What to use: Milk or Water to make Halwa? The easy answer is that either works or a mixture of both milk and water works too. When using water, the color will be more on the brownish side. If you use milk, the final Besan Halwa will not be as brown in color. You can also use a combination such as 1/2 cup milk with 1 cup of water. 
  • Ghee: Don't skimp on ghee when making halwa. I have tried with less and it does not taste as good :-)
  • Roasting Besan: Be patient when roasting the gram flour; it takes time. But roasting along with ghee definitely helps to speed the process. 
  • Optional ingredients: Nuts, saffron, and cardamom are optional. Add or skip based on your taste and availability.
  • Serving: You can serve it warm (preferred) or cold. To reheat, place in microwave for 15-30 seconds. Or heat in a pan on the stovetop until the halwa softens and is warmed well. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 298kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 18g (28%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 6g Cholesterol 39mg (13%) Sodium 21mg (1%) Potassium 202mg (6%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 19g (38%) Vitamin A 21IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 23mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 298

% Daily Value*

Calories 298kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 6g 30%
Cholesterol 39mg 13%
Sodium 21mg 1%
Potassium 202mg 4%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 19g 38%
Vitamin A 21IU 0%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.