Custard Halwa

Happy Diwali to all. We don't celebrate it but having brought up in North India, it definitely gets real nostalgic every year when Diwali comes. We have been sharing pics of Diwali sweets over the family whatsapp group for the past couple of days. Everybody is either making it or getting it from the market to refresh the memories of Diwali spend in the small township that I was brought up in. Getting days off from school or work was always the highlight. But nothing can beat the fun having some diwali sweets or snacks and busting crackers with friends in our neighborhood. Ahh well, those days are gone, having left us with some memories to cherish.

That last minute rush to make some goodie for festivals is always there. No matter what the festival is. Well at least in my case it stands true. I go for the last minute rush. Even though I would have made n number of things , I might just add up one more thing to make it even more memorable or interesting. If it stands true in your case too, then this might be the last and right thing to make this Diwali. A halwa that hardly has anything fancy involved but would definitely have its absence been felt if not put up on the menu. So grateful to have found this recipe while I was so badly craving for sweets having gone through so many Diwali posts from fellow bloggers and friends. Made me calm down the cravings so easily :). So go for it, this Diwali. 

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup of custard powder
2. 1 1/2 cups of sugar
3. 2 cups of water
4. 2 tbsp of ghee
5. 2 tbsp of broken cashews
6. A pinch of cardamom powder
7. Cashews for garnishing

Method

• Grease a square pan or steel plate with ghee and keep it ready
• In a pan, take the custard powder, sugar and water. Mix it well to form a lump free mixture.
• Place it on low heat and start cooking it. It will start to turn glossy. When the mixture gets an even glossy look, add a tbsp of ghee and cardamom powder. Keep stirring continuously.
• It will start to thicken and start releasing form the sides of pan and get a halwa texture. Add a tbsp of ghee and broken cashews and mix it well. Remove it from the heat.
• Transfer it into the grease pan/plate. Let it set for an hour. 
• After an hour of setting, invert it on to a plate and cut it into cubes.
• Garnish each piecewith half a cashew.

Tips

1. You could choose to fry the broken cashews before adding it to the halwa to improvise on the taste of halwa.
2. A non stick pan is recommended for making this halwa.

Recipe courtesy : Sharmis Passion