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Shakarkandi ka halwa
Sweet potato halwa
शकरकंदी का हलवा: sweet potato cooked in ghee with cardamom and nuts
When winter sweet potatoes arrive in North Indian markets, they go straight into the Mahashivratri and Ekadashi fasting kitchen: boiled, mashed and slowly roasted in ghee with sugar and cardamom, they make a soft, fudgy halwa with a natural caramel sweetness. It is offered after the puja and eaten in small bowls, warm, often as the first thing that breaks a day without grains. A few communities do not eat sweet potato on a fast, so check your own tradition. Common mistake: hurrying the roasting; the halwa is ready only when the ghee starts to separate and glisten at the edges and the mixture rolls away from the sides of the pan as one soft mass. Chef's tip: steam or bake the sweet potatoes rather than boiling them in water; drier flesh roasts faster and gives a deeper flavour.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the halwa
- 1 ⅛ lb sweet potatoes
- 4 tbsp ghee
- ½ cup full-fat milk
- 2 ⅞ oz sugar
- ½ tsp ground green cardamom
To finish
- 3 tbsp mixed cashews, almonds and pistachioschopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Steam or bake 1 ⅛ lb sweet potatoes for 20–25 minutes until a knife slides in easily. Cool slightly, peel and mash smoothly.
25 minStep 2: Heat 4 tbsp ghee in a heavy kadhai over a medium-low heat. Add the mash and cook, stirring constantly, for 8–10 minutes until it darkens slightly and smells toasty.
10 minStep 3: Add ½ cup full-fat milk and 2 ⅞ oz sugar and keep stirring for 8–10 minutes. The mixture loosens, then thickens again.
10 minStep 4: Cook until the ghee separates and glistens at the edges and the halwa leaves the sides of the pan as one soft mass. Stir in ½ tsp ground green cardamom.
3 minStep 5: Spoon into bowls, scatter over 3 tbsp mixed cashews, almonds and pistachios and serve warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 16 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shakarkandi ka halwa take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweet potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of ghee?
- Butter, same amount (keep the heat a little lower, butter burns sooner).
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Perfect for:Navratri & Durga Puja