Serves: 4
Total Calories: 263

1 to 2 tablespoon Dessert Masala
1/3 to 1/2 cup , fine semolina
1/3 cup chickpea flour
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground green cardamom seeds
1/4 cup , blanced raw almonds, , coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons shelled raw pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped
3 cups boiling water
4 (4-inch) silver leaves (optional)

1. Prepare the dessert masala. Then in a large wok or saucepan, mix the butter, semolina, and chickpea flour and cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until the mixture is rich brown, 20 to 25 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, mix in the raisins.

2. Add the sugar, cardamom seeds, almonds, and pistachios and continue to cook, stirring, about 5 minutes. This process roasts the nuts and lightly caramelizes the sugar. Standing far from the pan, carefully add the boiling water. (Use caution when adding the water, because as soon as it touches the hot wok, it will steam and splatter for 5 to 10 seconds.) Cover the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, until all the water is absorbed, 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Uncover the pan and cook, stirring, until the halva pulls away from the sides of the pan and a shiny glaze appears on top, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with the silver leaves and dessert masala, and serve hot, without garnish.

From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 4
Total Calories: 263
Calories from Fat: 38

More Recipes from the 1000 Indian Recipes Cookbook:
* Desserts
Almond and Saffron Halva
Almond and Saffron Kheer Pudding
Authentic Curdled Milk Fudge
Banana Dumplings
Basic White Milk Fudge
Basic White Milk Fudge with Cream
Basic White Milk Fudge with Pistachio Bits
Basmati Rice Custard
Bengali Rice Pudding
Bharti's Milk Cake
Caramelized Milk Balls in Thick Syrup
Caramelized Yogurt
Cellophane Noodles in Cardamom-Saffron Syrup
Corn Custard
Creamy Milk Pudding with Almonds and Saffron
Creamy Milk Pudding with Summer Fruits
Creamy Semolina Pancakes with Thickened Milk
Decadent Carrot Halva with Evaporated Milk and Jaggery
French Roll Bread Pudding
Fresh Fruit in Rose-Flavored Cream
Himachali Nuts
Indian Ice Cream with Almonds
Indian Ice Cream with Mangoes
Indian Ice Cream with Pistachios
Indian Ice Cream with Saffron
Indian Vermicelli Pudding
Layered White and Brown Chocolate Milk Fudge
Lychee Ice Cream Dessert
Mango Ice Cream Dessert
Marzipan Delights
Microwave Milk Pudding
Miniature Multi-Hued Paneer Cheese Balls
Paneer Cheese Kheer Pudding
Paneer Cheese Patties in Creamy Thickened Milk
Parsi Pressed Rice Flakes Pudding
Parsi Semolina Pudding
Pistachio and Cardamom Ice Cream Dessert
Plantain Halva
Pressure-Cooked Caramel Custard
Punjabi Rice Pudding
Punjabi Semolina Pudding
Pure Cashew Milk Fudge
Pure Pistachio Fudge
Quick and Easy Indian Ice Cream
Ricotta Cheese Cake
Saffron Curdled Milk Patties
Saffron Milk Fudge
Saffron Milk Patties
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Saffron and Almond Ice Cream Dessert
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Sweet Pretzel-Shaped Desserts
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Traditional Bread Pudding Bites
Traditional Dark Brown Milk Rolls in Saffron Syrup
Traditional Semolina Halva
Traditional Semolina Halva with Chickpea Flour and Raisins
Traditional Thickened Milk Pudding
White Paneer Cheese Balls in Fragrant Syrup
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Whole-Wheat Flour Halva
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Yellow Split Chickpea Pudding
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