Besan Halwa Recipe – How to Make Perfect Gram Flour Halwa
Besan Halwa, or gram flour halwa, is a traditional Indian dessert that’s rich, flavorful, and easy to make. This delightful sweet treat is made by roasting gram flour (besan) in ghee until golden and aromatic, then mixed with a sweet syrup and flavored with cardamom and saffron. It’s a perfect dessert for festivals, special occasions, or when you’re simply craving something sweet and homemade. The key to getting the perfect texture in besan halwa is to roast the flour patiently on low heat to avoid any raw flavor. This halwa is soft, melts in your mouth, and can be shaped into pieces or served warm in bowls. Follow this detailed Besan Halwa recipe to make a flawless halwa at home.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Festive Recipes
Cuisine Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, South Asian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 380 kcal
Prepare the Syrup
In a pan, add 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water. Stir on medium heat until sugar dissolves completely.
1 cup Sugar, ¼ cup Water
Once dissolved, simmer for 2-3 minutes until the syrup thickens slightly.
When a thin string forms between your fingers, the syrup is ready.
Stir in 1/2 tsp cardamom powder and a pinch of saffron (optional). Set aside.
½ tsp Cardamom Powder, Saffron
Roast the Besan
In a non-stick pan, melt 1/2 cup ghee on low heat.
½ cup Ghee
Gradually sieve 1 cup besan into the pan to avoid lumps.
1 cup Gram Flour
Stir and roast the besan on low heat for about 10 minutes until it turns golden brown and releases a nutty aroma.
Combine Syrup and Besan
Slowly pour the prepared syrup into the roasted besan, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
Add 1/4 cup grated mawa and 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk. Stir to combine everything into a smooth mixture.
¼ cup Mawa, ¼ cup Milk
Continue to cook on low heat until the mixture thickens and leaves the sides of the pan.
Set the Halwa
If you want to set the halwa, grease a mold with ghee.
Pour the hot halwa into the mold and flatten the surface with a spatula. Let it cool for about 1 hour.
Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle chopped cashews, pistachios, and almonds over the halwa.
Chopped Nuts
Once cooled, cut the halwa into pieces or serve warm in bowls.
- For extra richness, you can substitute some ghee with butter, but the flavor will differ slightly.
- Adding a pinch of salt helps balance the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- You can store this halwa in the refrigerator for up to a week and reheat before serving.
Calories: 380kcal