Besan Halwa is a traditional Indian dessert, made by roasting gram flour in ghee slowly over the stovetop till browned. Flavored with green cardamom, saffron, this is the perfect recipe to make halwa!
As a true Indian foodie at heart, I love Indian sweets, especially halwa—whether it's Wheat Halwa, Gajar Halwa, Jaggery Rice, Til Ladoo, or Suji Halwa.
This is my mother-in-law's delicious recipe of Besan (gram flour) Halwa flavored with Ghee, sugar, Cardamom, and Kesar. It's a fail-proof recipe and perfect for beginners as the easy ratios help you make this halwa easily.
I wait for special occasions like Diwali, Navratri or Holi to make Indian sweets. Halwa recipe is so easy and I have an expertise in it as I have been making it for more than 15 years.
I haven't added any dry fruits as nobody likes dry fruits in sweets in my family. They find it a distraction. Feel free to add any nuts of your choice.
Team this indulgent and melt-in-mouth textured Besan Halwa with Poori or ragi paratha!
More Indian Sweets: Wheat or atta halwa, suji mango halwa, jaggery paratha, wheat gulgule or pua
Ingredients
- Besan (Gram Flour): The key ingredient that gives the halwa its nutty flavor. The same recipe can be used to make wheat or suji halwa.
- Ghee: I highly recommend making halwa in ghee. vegans can make swaps, though.
- Sugar: White granulated sugar works well as we will make a sugar syrup.
- Freshly Ground Green Cardamom and Saffron
- Water & Milk
How To Make Besan Halwa
Step 1. Roast the Besan
In a wok or heavy-bottomed pan, heat ghee over medium heat. Add besan (gram flour) and roast, stirring continuously, until it turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma. This step needs patience as it takes about 10 minutes to roast besan on a slow flame.
While you roast besan, you may prep sugar syrup.
Tip
The ghee may start leaving the sides of the wok and float at the top of besan indicating the besan is roasted well.
Step 2. Prepare Sugar Milk Syrup
In a saucepan, combine water, milk with sugar. I add saffron and crushed green cardamom at this step. Heat until the sugar dissolves completely, then set aside.
Tip
The milk is optional. You may make water syrup only.
Step 3. Slowly Add Sugar Syrup to Roasted Besan
Gradually pour the warm sugar syrup into the roasted besan while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Stirring while pouring sugar syrup is important and at the same time be careful as hot water might splutter. (sieve it while pouring)
Continue stirring frequently, until it thickens and starts to leave the sides of the pan. It comes together as a whole large lump. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
Step 5. Serve
Serve the delicious Besan Halwa with poori or paratha.
You may also like-
More Indian Sweets-
- Indian Dinner Recipes- vegetarian
- Makhana Kheer Recipe (Indian Fox Nut Pudding)
- Pumpkin Halwa | Kaddu Ka Halwa
Don't forget to subscribe to my Weekly Newsletter for a free Recipe!
Besan ka Halwa | Indian Besan Pudding
Equipment
- 1 Pan making sugar syrup
- 1 heavy wok making halwa
Ingredients
- 1 cup Besan
- 1.25 cup sugar adjust the sweetness
- ½ cup Desi Ghee
- 1 cup Milk
- 2 cups Water
- few strands of kesar
- 5 pieces cardamom ground it fresh
- dry fruits optional
Instructions
- In a wok or heavy-bottomed pan, heat ghee over medium heat. Add besan (gram flour) and roast, stirring continuously, until it turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma. This step needs patience as it takes about 10 minutes to roast besan on a slow flame. While you roast besan, you may prep sugar syrup.
- In a saucepan, combine water, milk with sugar. I add saffron and crushed green cardamom at this step. Heat until the sugar dissolves completely, then set aside.
- Gradually pour the warm sugar syrup into the roasted besan while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Stirring while pouring sugar syrup is important and at the same time be careful as hot water might splutter.Continue stirring frequently, until it thickens and starts to leave the sides of the pan. This should take about 3-5 minutes
- Serve the delicious Besan Halwa with poori or paratha.
Notes
- You may add milk only or water only. The color and taste would differ but it solely depends on how you like it.
- The ghee may start leaving the sides of the wok and float at the top of besan indicating the besan is roasted well.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 katori | |
| Servings: 5 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 300 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 8.2g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat 4.3g | 22% |
| Cholesterol 13mg | 4% |
| Sodium 36mg | 2% |
| Total Carbohydrate 53g | 19% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
| Total Sugars 44.2g | |
| Protein 5.7g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 1% |
| Calcium 68mg | 5% |
| Iron 1mg | 5% |
| Potassium 184mg | 4% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Afiya says
Very simple, easy and super delicious
Deepti says
Yes, it is. Thank you so much:)