A bowl of halwa is prepared by my grandmother every year on Gurupurab. The holy term kadha parshad is attached to the simple atte ka halwa. That’s the amount of relevance a halwa holds in Indian households. Be it a quick celebration hack or a religious ritual, halwa is a usual suspect in most situations. For those living under a rock, halwa is a thick pudding made with a variety of ingredients like atta (wheat), sooji (semolina) and more. Continuously stirred in oodles of ghee, the halwa derives its richness from the tedious cooking process and the flavourful ingredients.
The dense texture and thickness of the atta halwa is what melts my heart each time and I run for a second helping in the kitchen. If there are nuts and raisins in it, it’s like a cherry on the top. Come winters, we all start craving for everything. From garam garam chai and hot lattes to crispy fried pakoras and hot chocolate brownies, there is no end to the list. Since the weather outside is chilly, you automatically wish to consume something that provides your body with warmth. A lot of Indian sweet treats like gulab jamun and jalebis are served hot which make them an ideal winter dessert.
Apart from these mithais, one thing that is very basic and can be easily made at home during winters is halwa. Derived from the Arabic word, hulv, this dessert pudding traces its origin to the Middle-East where the age-old Turkish halwa comprised of sesame seeds and honey. It was only once this dish travelled to India via Persia that it attained a rich and grainy texture.
This winter, open your hearts to the halwas of India and relish them throughout the season.
1. Dates Halwa
Made with the goodness of khajoor aka dates, this sticky halwa is dark brown in colour. A typical Kerala style halwa, this dessert uses rice flour as the base ingredient. Spiked up with nuts and fruity flavours, this recipe right here brings a coconut flavour to the dish. The warm nature of dates is considered to be suitable for the chilly months, providing you with the much needed energy and nutrition.
2. Rajgira Halwa
Also known as Amarnath halwa, this halwa is made from a special type of grain called rajgira. The gluten-free dessert is made with just three simple ingredients; milk, sugar and ghee. An ideal winter grain, including rajgira is your diet can prove to be a great source of fibre, protein and iron. It is also emerging as a super food these days.
3. Sohan Halwa
Although it has the word halwa in its name, this Pakistani dessert is more like halwa shaped like a barfi. The condensed milk, ghee, sugar and curd combination mixed with all-purpose flour lends the halwa its beautiful texture and colour. The rich flavours and the crunch of dry fruits makes the halwa a winter dessert.
4. Karachi Halwa
Associated with the city of Bombay, this halwa is a winter staple. The mellow and glossy texture and the soft and chewy taste of the halwa is achieved with the continuous stirring of water and sugar, mixed with corn flour. Diced into square-shaped pieces, this nutty halwa is definitely your ticket to heaven.
5. Kashi Halwa
Do you fret at the sight of pumpkin? We understand why. That’s because you haven’t been introduced to the delicious kashi/pumpkin halwa yet. Grated pumpkin is spiked up with ghee, sugar and a plethora of dry fruits to lend the fruity halwa a touch of nuts. Well, we cannot emphasis on how good pumpkin is for your health and skin in winters.
6. Moong Dal Halwa
In Delhi winters, if I don’t get my moong dal halwa at least twice in the season then winters turn quite dull and boring for me. As the name suggests, the halwa is made by the tedious task of stirring moong dal in ghee and sugar till it attains a thick consistency and a moderately brown colour. Top it with some dry fruits like cashews and be ready to be transported to heaven.
7. Gajar Ka Halwa
Yes, we saved the best for the last. Gajar ka halwa is a quintessential winter halwa that you just cannot skip. The grated carrots are mixed with sugar, milk and ghee to achieve the perfect consistency. Then the halwa is spruced up with raisins, cashews etc. Also, I feel Delhi has the best gajar ka halwa (personal bias intended).