Wheat Halwa was something I always thought I should make an attempt! I love Thirunelveli Halwa and I can eat a load, of course figuratively. But I can perk up the energy to even do that halfway! I remember the many occasions that Dad had got this especially for me and it used to be something I used to enjoy. Goduma halwa is loaded with ghee, it literally oozes out, even pouring out ghee.
But it's worth every bite! I always thought the best way to enjoy this halwa, would be taking a spoon of it and rolling it around your mouth, and slowly slipping on each small bite of it. See I have made a thesis on this subject! The best part is, hubby dear doesn't like this, so I get to eat his share. The worse part is, he never remembers to get this. Of course, that was in the past. Now he has made it a rule to buy this occasionally and I indulge in this sinful act till it lasts!
I said it was Wheat and yes I got it right this time!
Since wheat halwa was something so long on my mind, I decided that I am going to make it. And yes, this was what I was busy cooking last Saturday night after 10 pm! I had a couple of recipes on hand but didn't want to take a chance in experimenting at this point, so-referred to The Yummy Blog, as I knew Lathamma had posted this. With a printout and all things, I set forth to make it.
The changes I made to the recipe were increasing the sugar, cos you know I am a sweet person..:0)..though I don't like sweets, I like sweets to be sweet! Puzzled? Well, another change was adding saffron. Lathamma asked for saffron colour, well I thought I will add saffron straight. How about that, holding the saffron by its horns and asking it to yield its colour!
Preparation time: 15 mins
Cooking Time: 40 mins
Soaking Time: 12 hrs
Cuisine: Tamil Nadu
Ingredients Needed
Whole Wheat (wheat grains) - 1 cup
Sugar - 2 cups (You can increase to suit your taste)
Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp
Ghee - 5 tablespoons (You can increase if you like)
Saffron color or Saffron strands - 1 pinch or abt 5
For Garnish:
Your choice of nuts roasted in ghee
Method to prepare:
Wash and soak the wheat grains in water for 12 hrs.
Then drain wheat and add 1 cup of water and grind in a mixie. Strain through a sieve to get the thick milk. Add another cup of water and grind it for another 2 mins. Strain and repeat the process till you get the husk left behind. It took me about 4 times.
Heat a heavy bottom pan or Kadai. Add the sugar and the milk and cook on slim. It's very important to cook in the sim, else it will get lumps. The only mistake I did was to let it unattended when the wheat milk started gathering. Then I had to press it down to remove the lumps.
You got to keep stirring continuously until the milk starts thickening. Add the saffron and cardamom powder. Then add the Ghee. Keep stirring and cooking on the sim. It's done when you can roll the halwa into a ball.
But you also should see if the ghee is oozing out on the sides. Add the nuts and mix well.
Consistency is very important if you want to cut them into shapes. If you add more ghee and allow it to be cooked a little longer, you will get the consistency as of Tirunelavi, though I am sure the Traditional sweet has more to its secrecy!
Anyway, I was glad that I attempted this halwa, though I am not sure I will want to try again because of its tedious process, it's worth the efforts.
Swati Raman Garg says
godumai halwaaaaa... pati and periamma used to mke it for every halwa... and yess i love d ghee oozing out from the corners... 🙂 and urs looks prfect sri
Divya says
Sri...you tried making tirunalveli halwa at home..??wow..kudos to you,the halwa looks yummmeeee!!
LG says
long time never had this halwa. Looks nice.
Nags says
i LOVE this!! my mom makes it as a quick dish with wheat flour and ghee. i still remember licking the spoon off and waiting for the guests to be served first 😀
btw, i chose box three too and posted wheat puttu 🙂
Priti says
Very nice indeed..I didn't knew the halwa is made using wheat milk..delicious halwa
Arundathi says
delicious, valli. sinful, but delicious! 🙂
satya says
We have a very big plate at mother's place which we refer as 'Halwa Pallem'. Whenever amma made this halwa, it was my duty to extract the milk and it's such a tedious process that I've never ventured to make it after marriage...:D
notyet100 says
nice entry for the event..
kamala says
I like Home made Halwa Valli..Amma used to make for every diwali..I too make halwa often in a small amount..Comes out perfect.
bee says
5 tbsps ghee is not that bad, and i love the saffron made to yield by its horns.
sowmya says
looks delicious..great entry!!
JZ @ Tasty treats says
halwa...yumm yumm...i usually am not a big fan of halwa, i cudnt eat more than a teeeny piece at a time..but ur pictures actually made me drool!!
Kalai says
Valli, this looks absolutely amazing!! Can you believe I've never had godhumai halwa? I am so dying to try yours now! 🙂
Cham says
Not easy one! But worth the end result... Love the color 🙂
Madhavi says
Halwa looks awesome, delicious. Check out my blog something waiting for u :))
Asha says
Good Monday morning to ya ri! What a great start for me this morning, I remember eating this form bakery in B'lore.
My mother just did basic cooking with a cook everyday, didn't experiment much at home, so don't know all these traditional desserts, good that I get to see and learn all these!:)
Maheswari says
Hats off to you for trying this out,My MIL makes this for every diwali.SO i know how hard it is to make.YOu know what, saturday night after 10 pm , i was making murukku..:D
indosungod says
Looks awesome Valli, my ammayi used to make this those days but I was not too fond of it but now that I don't get it I crave for it. It used to be swimming in ghee though, you have cut it down I guess.
skribles says
wow srivalli - godumai halwa! oh tht pic looks so tempting ... i want a piece 🙂
karuna says
nice halwa. we get wheat halwa in the gurdwara as parshad. love it.its without the elaichi and saffron though.
Jayashree says
You got that lovely colour from just 5 strands of saffron...WOW!!! Looks good....
KALVA says
I know its not easy to get this one righT!!!
TBC says
The halwa looks good but it's too much work.:D I've seen some versions use wheat flour...
Bhawana says
wheat halwa looks so perfect :). will try soon. its a long time I have tried this. nice dear.
DK says
ur photos are getting better abd better - whats happening Valli! The halwa looks toooooooooooooooooooooo good! me catching the next flight to ur place 🙂
Latha Narasimhan says
Good that you got it perfect! :)) It is'nt that difficult!
Stirring continously is must! 🙂
Hetal says
wow...this halwa looks delicious..
Vanamala says
halwa looks tasty...
ritvik says
nice goduma halwa! my mom makes it with wheat flour and ghee.
ritvik says
nice goduma halwa! my mom makes it with wheat flour and ghee.
Tee says
Looks delicious! I have never eaten wheat halwa before...have to try it sometime.
Divya Vikram says
I remember having Iruttukadai halwa in tirunelveli..This reminds of that..Looks divine Valli..
A&N says
Hi Sri, your halwa has not only made me drool but also brought back fond memories of my childhood days. May grandpa owned a sweet shop and I used to raid it for this halwa every time I went there 🙂
meeso says
That looks so sweet and tasty 🙂
SMN says
This is my fav halwa.. great u cooked it at home..
Prajusha says
sri,
wow..this looks delicious..
Shankari says
We would eat this off of a banana leaf in Tirunelvelli and Tenkasi- yum.
Ranjani says
nice! I'm craving something sweet now:)