Hope Deepavali preparations are in full swing at your place! It is in mine. Since Saturday, we are doing nothing but some sweets for savories for Deepavali. I remember my childhood, when Amma would start off the preparations a week before, getting the flour ready for the Murukkus. Then for the Athirasams. She also used to make our most favorite Kajas. This year, we thought we will skip the Athirasams, but make Kajas. That will be posted tomorrow.
Today's special is Athamma's special. She saw this in some tele and had prepared it a couple of times. All the time, it was over before even I could click a picture. So this time around, we thought we will prepare again, at least for the pictures. It came out very well again. I remembered my Moong Dal Halwa and wondered if it ought to be prepared the same way. Though this method uses Moong Dal, it's prepared differently.
But I am not sure why it's called Ashoka Halwa. If you know, you can let me know the reason. The last time she made it, she didn't add any food colour, so it was a natural orange colour. This time, she thought she would make it red!
This is a great replacement for Moong Dal halwa, which takes a long time to get done. This is quick and simple. And no compromise on taste! So another Halwa to sweeten your Diwali!
Ingredients Needed:
Pesarappu / Yellow Moong Dal - 1 cup
Milk - 1 & 1/2 cup
Sugar - 2 cups
Grated coconut - 3 tbsp (opt)
Ghee - 3 tbsp
Cardamom a pinch
Red Food colour a pinch (opt)
For Garnish
Cashew nuts
Almonds
Method to prepare: Heat a pan with ghee, roast the nuts and keep aside, then roast the grated coconut.Melt the sugar in a pan and get a one thread syrup.Meanwhile, take the dal and milk in a bowl. Fill the pressure cooker with water. Place the bowl of dal in the cooker and cook for 2 -3 whistles. Once the dal is cooled, grind to a smooth paste.
Boil together and pressure cook. Grind to a smooth paste once it's cool.
Take Ghee in a thick bottomed pan, then add sugar syrup, then add the dal paste, cardamon, grated coconut (if you are adding), and half of the nuts. Mix well till you get the consistency of halwa, you can know this when the sides start leaving.
Grease a plate and spread. Garnish the rest of the nuts over the top
This stays good for 2-3 days if it's not devoured before!
Enjoy your Deepavali sweets!
Zee says
This is indeed a very sumptuous and delicious halwa...easy to make to:)
Wish you and your family a very Happy Deepawali Srivalli. Hope you have a good time:)
Kamini says
Nice recipe, and high in protein, too.
Happy Deepavali, Srivalli! Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season
Kamini.
Asha says
Happy Deepavali to you and family Sri, enjoy! ))
n33ma says
Love the color.....Happy Diwali
Mahimaa's kitchen says
awesome awesome Srivalli!
Cham says
Delicious Halwa! Wish you a very Happy Deepavali to u and ur family!
Uma says
halwa looks awesome srivalli! Yummy! Happy Deepawali to you and your family too!
Sukanya Ramkumar says
Yummy halwa. Looks so good. Nice recipe...
Wish u a happy Diwali!!!
Sharmila says
That looks so tempting .. I too posted instant moong dal halwa .. how did I miss this JFI by you?Gotta send something soon. 🙂
karuna says
those lookyummy. i love moong dal halwa. happy diwali to u and to ure family
vidhas says
Ashoka Halwa looks Yummy Srivalli. I was looking for this recipe long time surely try.
Laavanya says
Happy Diwali Srivalli.
Srivalli says
Thank you all for wishes and your lovely comments.
Wish you all a very happy Deepavali
SMN says
I never had this halwa before has heard about it a lot