Ashoka Halwa is very popular in Thiruvaiyar in Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu. This halwa is also known as “Thiruvaiyar Halwa”. This halwa is commonly served in weddings in Thanjavur district. It is one of the easiest halwa recipes that even beginners can try with confidence. Enjoy making this Halwa for Diwali this year. Today we will learn how to make Ashoka halwa following this easy recipe with step wise pictures.
Ashoka Halwa
Prep Time : 15 mins
Cook Time : 25 mins
Serves: 2-3
Recipe Category: Dessert-Diwali Sweets
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar
Serves: 2-3
Recipe Category: Dessert-Diwali Sweets
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar
Ingredients needed
Moong Dal/Pasi paruppu – 1/2 cup
Wheat flour – 1/4 cup
Ghee/Clarified butter – 4 tbsp
Sugar – 1 1/2 cup
Cardamom powder – 1/4 tsp
Any food color or kesari powder – a pinch
Cashew nuts – 6-7
Preparation
Dry roast moong dal until you get a light aroma of roasted dal. Do not over roast it. You do not have to brown the dal.
Add 1 1/2 cup of water and pressure cook until soft and mushy. Mash it well. You can also blend it in the mixie/blender (once it cools a little) if the dal is not cooked to a mush.
Method
Heat 1 1/2 tbsp of ghee and roast cashew nuts until golden brown. Remove from pan.
In the same pan, fry the wheat flour on low heat until it turns light brown and you get the aroma of roasted wheat flour.
Once the raw smell of the wheat flour goes, add the cooked and mashed (or blended) moong dal.
Add sugar, mash everything well and cook on medium low heat. Once you add sugar, the mixture will become watery.
Add a tbsp of ghee and continue to cook, stirring continuously. Add another tbsp of ghee after a few minutes of cooking.
Add food color or kesari powder and mix well.
Once it starts thickening, add the rest of the ghee, cardamom powder and cashew nuts.
Cook stirring continuously until the halwa starts to leave the sides of the pan. Tips -The halwa should not stick to your hands once it is done.
Ashoka halwa is ready.
Enjoy making this easy and delicious Ashoka halwa for Diwali.
Check more Diwali Sweets and Snacks Recipes.
If you found this post useful, I would really love it, if you pin it or share it with your Facebook fans or Twitter followers or Google+ circles today. All it takes is a simple click on the “pin it” “like,” “share,” “tweet,” or Google+ buttons below the post. Thank you!
Excellent dish. Came out in a fine way with good taste.
Vow as usual wonderful dear…
thank u for this post padhu wish u very happy diwali
Thanks Padhu. Your recipes are always a hit. You are my first choice when am on the look out for traditional recipes. Thank you.
Hi, i would like to serve this halwa with ice cream as dessert for dinner party…What would you recommend. I can only think of vanilla…Any Recommendations…Please help
Of course vanilla ice cream. It goes well with any dessert.
Superb delicacy.Thank you
Thank you Padhu. I have doubled the portion but used 2 cups of sugar( i still find it sweet). Reminds me of my childhood days where my grandpa gets this hot sweet and mixture from Thiruvaiyaru Aandavar Asoka stall. Thanks again for sharing this AUTHENTIC recipe
Hi…. I have a query… Will this halwa become very hard after a while???
It will not become hard. It will just thicken slightly.
Hi I had made this sweet by this evening . The measurements were good. It came out wonderful. Thank u
Hi padhu..thanks for this post…as I have artho pain..shall we do this in electric rice cooker?
Can we use roasted moong dal flour dissolved in water instead of cooked and mashed moong dal?
No, It will not work. follow the recipe for best results.
Hi padhu thanks for the recipe..I am planning to do this Ashoka for for Diwali potluck for about 16-18 peaple. Please suggest me the measurements for the same as I am make my it for the first time.