This is famous in Thiruvaiyaru, a town near Thanjavur. This halwa is served in almost all the weddings in Thanjavur.
Asoka Halwa is a delicious Indian dessert made with dal (lentils) and wheat flour. The preparation starts with dry frying the dal in a kadai. It is then pressure cooked until soft. Afterward, it is mashed to a semi-liquid consistency. Next, ghee is heated in the kadai, and wheat flour is added and fried until fragrant. The mashed dal is mixed in and cooked on medium heat. Then, sugar and food color are added. Gradually, more ghee is incorporated while stirring, until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the kadai. Cardamom powder and fried cashew nuts are added for flavor. Once everything is well mixed, the halwa is transferred to a greased bowl to set. Enjoy this rich and flavorful treat!
Asoka Halwa Recipe
Asoka Halwa
10
servings5
minutes25
minutesThis Halwa is made with different combination of Moong dhal, wheat flour and ghee.
Ingredients
Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal) – 1 cup
Wheat flour – 1 cup
Sugar – 2 cups
Ghee – 1 cup
Orange/Red food colour – few drops
Cardamoms – 8 (powdered)
Cashew nuts – 10 to 15 (broken into bits and fried in ghee)
Directions
- In a kadai put the dal and dry fry for few minutes. Remove it before it changes its colour. Pressure cook the dal in enough water (2 cups water approx.) till soft. Mash the cooked dal nicely. Mashed dal should be of semi liquid consistency.
- In a kadai pour one or two tablespoon ghee. When it is hot, add the wheat flour and fry till nice aroma comes out.
- Add the cooked dal and mix well. Allow to cook in a medium flame.
- Add sugar and stir well.
- Add food colour and mix well.
- Add ghee little by little and keep stirring.
- When the ghee leaves the sides of the kadai, add cardamom powder. Then fried cashew nuts and the remaining ghee. Stir well.
- Now remove from stove. Transfer to a greased bowl.
Notes
- This halwa can be prepared without adding wheat flour also. In such case, reduce the Sugar quantity.
I knew about the popular Moong Halwa prepared in the north, but I was not aware of the Ashoka Halwa. Nice pic & so must be the recipe. I can't wait longer before I try. Would surely let u know, once I try.
Happy Dashera to you & your family…
Love,
Ash……..
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)
Hi Ashkuku
Thank you for visiting my site. This halwa is famous in Thanjavur district. No function is complete without serving this halwa.
how much water need to add to prepare this?
Hi Uma,
No need to add any water separately. When you are cooking the dhal, just add water to cover the dhal and cook it soft and mash along with the cooked water and add it.
I tried this recipe today. It was good, but may be I could improve. When I try it for the second time, I would surely get the taste that I expected.
Thanx again for the recipe posted.
Love,
Ash…….
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)