Asoka Halwa

Asoka Halwa is famous in Tanjore district.This is also famously called as "Thiruvaiyar Halwa" . I bet, definitely you would come across this Halwa in every wedding that happen in Tanjore side.This Halwa has protein from Moong dhal and fibre content from wheat flour.

Ingredients:

1.Moon Dhal - 1 Cup

2.Wheat Flour - 1 Cup

3.Sugar - 1 1/2 Cups (More or less depending on your taste)

4.Ghee - 1 Cup

5.Cahsew - 1/4 Cup

6.Cardamom - 5

7.Kesari powder - 1/2 tsp

Procedure:

1.First of all,cook moong dhal with enough water till it is soft.Mash the dhal and keep aside.

2.In a pan,add little ghee and roast cardomom and cashew.Keep aside.

3.In the same pan,add wheat flour and roast it for some time.

4.Now,add water to the wheat flour and make it to a paste without lumps.

5.Stir well and cook the paste under medium flame for 5-10 minutes.

6.Add the mashed moong dhal to the cooked wheat paste.Keep stirring.

7.Add sugar and kesari powder.Mix the contents well.

8.Add half-a-cup of ghee,so that the halwa will not stick to sides.Keep stirring.

9.When the cooking is almost done add the roasted cardamom and cashew. (When you take the halwa with your thumb and index finger,it should not stick to your fingers)

10.Now,add the remaining ghee and mix well.

11.Take out the Halwa from the stove and serve hot.

Note: You can also make it to diamond shaped pieces.For this , you have to grease a plate with ghee and then pour the contents from pan. Make diamond shapes with knife and wait till the halwa is warm.Now,take out and serve.