Chana Dal(Bengal Gram Lentil) Halwa

As Indians celebrates Holi today I would also love to share my wishes to all my friends and readers.

                            Happy Holi!!!

 Today I am sharing a sweet which is popular in northern part of India and is prepared during festival seasons.This recipe was new to me and never tried the halwa with dal.But I love this sweet very much.

I am happy to inform you that i am now a team member of the South Vs North Challenge SNC as called,hosted by Divya Pramil of You Too Can Cook Indian Food.She is doing this job for the past six months in a  big successful way.By participating this challenge i can learn more North Indian dishes.The group is divided into 2 teams named as south and north team where both of them compete against each other with a traditional recipe.Kirti from flavors from my kitchen challenged south team with a sweet dish Chana dal Halwa and Swasthi  challenged the north team with Hyderabad dum vegbiryani  as this month's challenge.This is the first time i am participating in a challenge competition.

Here is my Recipe for Chana Dal Halwa.
Ingredients:

1. Chana Dal/Split bengal gram/kadala parippu-3/4cup
2. Granulated white sugar-1/4cup
3. Rice flour-2tsp
4. Ghee-5-7tbsp
5. Milk-1.5cup
6. Cardamom pods-5,crushed  
7. Cashew nuts,halved-5-7 

 Method:

1. Wash and soak chana dal in water for 2 hours.
2. Boil the dal in 1cup water until it is just done.
3. You can pressure cook with 1cup water for 2-3 whistles and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Allow all the water to evaporate and allow to cool.
5. Mash the cooked dal with the ladle or with  a masher to get a coarse paste.
6. Heat ghee in a pan and add mashed dal.
7. Fry the mashed dal on medium heat for 15 minutes or until the ghee separates on the top and the raw smell disappears.
8. Now add 1/2cup milk along with rice flour and fry on high heat till it is well absorbed.Then again add the remaining milk and keep stirring frequently. 
9. Repeat this until all milk is used.
10. Now add sugar and cardamom powder.Mix well.
11. Fry on high heat for 5 minutes.switch off the flame, when the halwa starts leaving the pan.Add chopped cashew nuts.
12. Pour into a greased tray  to set.Pressed the top of the halwa using banana leaf or with an aluminum foil to get a smooth surface.Sprinkle some chopped nuts on top of it and cut in desired shape.

Serve with warm or as your personal taste.

NOTES:

• You can use blender to mash the dal.Do not add water and make a coarse paste(I didn't use).
• Stir the mixture continuously while cooking.
• Do not add milk in one trip.Then the halwa becomes soggy and will loose the texture too.  
• You can add khoya also. 
  

Happy Cooking!!!