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besan halwa garnished with chopped almonds and pistachios

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.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert, Festive Recipes
Cuisine Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, South Asian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 380 kcal

Equipment

  • Non-stick pan
  • Whisk or spatula
  • Sieve
  • Measuring cups
  • Bowl for syrup
  • Mold optional for setting

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup Gram Flour Besan
  • ½ cup Ghee
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • ¼ cup Water
  • ½ tsp Cardamom Powder
  • Saffron A Pinch ( optional)
  • ¼ cup Mawa grated, (optional)
  • Salt A Pinch
  • ¼ cup Milk boiled, adjust as needed
  • Chopped Nuts Cashews, Pistachios, Almonds for garnish

Instructions
 

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.

Video

Notes

  • 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 380kcal
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