Did you know that halwa comes from the land of Arabs? The word is derived from the Arabic hulw which refers to something sweet. The Turks have been credited for introducing us to the concept of halwa. For those untouched by the phenomenon, halwa is a combination of flour and nuts that are cooked together into a smooth and sweet paste. The basic preparation of the Turkish consisted of sesame seeds and honey. Gradually, as the halwa came to India with travellers, the dish started being made from wheat, semolina and lentils. Honey was replaced by sugar. This became a staple household dessert and as well as a prasad for Gods in the country, which is followed to this day. This is a simple halwa recipe which is prepared from roasted sooji in ghee. Combined with sugar, cashews, milk and cardamom powder, the rich and dense halwa is garnished with some chopped nuts.