Nolen Gurer Karachi / Bombay Halwa (Halwa made of Date Palm Jaggery - Bong style)

Name: Nolen Gurer Karachi / Bombay Halwa (Halwa made of Date Palm Jaggery - Bong style)
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1/2 cup corn flour; 2 cups water; 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder; 1 pinch saffron; 1 tsp. rose water; 1 cup nolen gur (Date Palm jaggery); 1 cup water; 3-4 tbsp. ghee; 1/3 cup mixed dry fruits

Bethica Das @kitchen_flavours

Sharjah (UAE)

#ES - Karachi Halwa, also known as Bombay Halwa is a very popular sweet worldwide. It is typically made of corn flour, sugar, generous amount of ghee and few dry fruits. You can also call it Corn Four / Corn Starch Halwa as it is the main ingredient in this recipe. It is a very easy recipe with very few ingredients in it. This halwa has a jelly like texture with added food color and is flavored with cardamom powder.

However in this recipe, I made use of Nolen Gur (Date Palm Jaggery) instead of sugar. The latter is a seasonal delicacy used to prepare various kinds of Bengali sweets. So here I combined both corn flour and jaggery and created a delicious and an aromatic sweet to relish. As jaggery is a natural sweetener, there is absolutely no need for any extra sugar.

I have not added any food colour. The rich orangish colour comes from the use of jaggery and saffron. It has a long shelf life and can be stored in an air-tight container. It can be used as a party dessert, as a festive sweet or as a special gift to your near and dear ones.

Bethica Das @kitchen_flavours

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Ingredients

1/2 cupcorn flour
2 cupswater
1/4 tsp.cardamom powder
1 pinchsaffron
1 tsp.rose water
1 cupnolen gur (Date Palm jaggery)
1 cupwater
3-4 tbsp.ghee
1/3 cupmixed dry fruits

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Steps

1

In a bowl, take the corn flour, water, cardamom powder, saffron and rose water. Whisk well and keep aside for 1-2 hours for the saffron to get infused.
2

In a pan take the nolen gur (Date palm jaggery and water. Keep stirring till the jaggery melts completely.
3

Mix the corn flour mix again & pour it into the pan. Keep stirring on a low flame till everything is well combined & thickens slightly.
4

Add 1 tbsp. of ghee & continue to mix till it is well absorbed. Keep adding a tbsp. of ghee at intervals & keep stirring
5

Halfway through the process, add the mixed dry fruits (preserving few to garnish). Cook till the mixture turns glossy & thickens into a mass. It will take approximately 30-35 minutes.
6

Grease a tray and sprinkle with some chopped dry fruits, dry rose petals and few saffron strands. Transfer the halwa into & set aside for 2 hours for it to cool down. Cut into squares.
7

Enjoy this delightful sweet as a party dessert, as a festive sweet or as a special gift to your near and dear ones.