Atte Ka Halwa (Wholewheat Flour dessert)

My Grandmother loved cooking for family and guests. Food was pretty much the center of all social interaction. Halwa is a nutritous and simple dish which is made on most all occasions in a typical Kayastha household. The simplicity of this dish makes it even more delicious

Servings: 6
Time - Prep: 5 mins
           Cooking: 25 mins

Ingredients Required:

Atta (Wholewheat Flour)                    1 cup (110 gms)
Sugar                                                 1 cup (110 gms)
Ghee (Clarified Butter)                       1 cup (220 gms)
Water                                                2 cups (230 ml)
Kishmish (Raisins, soaked)                 1 tbsp
Badam (Almonds, slivered)                1 tbsp
 

Method:

• Heat Kadahi (thick bottomed cast-iron Wok).
• Dry roast atta on low heat, stirring constantly till it turns a lovely shade of brown and emits roasted aroma (approx. 15 mins)
• Remove roasted atta from kadahi.
• On low flame again, add ghee to the kadahi, heat.
• After thirty (30) seconds or so, add the roasted atta. Stirring constantly.
• Add Kishmish, stir for a minute.
• Add Sugar, keep stirring for 30 seconds.
• Add water. Take care to keep stirring briskly in figure of 8. Ensure that no lumps are formed. [Note: Keep a slow and steady flow of water while stirring constantly]
• Keep stirring till ghee separates on the sides of the halwa.
• Garnish with slivered badam.
• Serve hot.

Notes: To avoid burning of the atta, use heavy bottomed Wok and keep the dish on a constant low flame. The consistency of the halwa should not be runny (closest to a souffle', however, the comparision is certainly amusing to me)

Nutritive value:
Atta - Whole-wheat flour is more nutritious than refined white flour, it contains the macronutrients of the wheat's bran and germ (especially fiber and protein). Whole wheat is a good source of calcium, iron, fiber, and other minerals like selenium.

Your comments and feedbacks are most welcome. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do!