Valentines’s Day Special – Wheat Halwa / Karah Prasadh
- 12
- February
- 2009
Thirunelveli Halwa:
Thirunelveli Iruttukkadai Style Halwa/ Gothumai Halwa /Gyehoo`n Ki Halwa / Wheat Halwa / Glossy Ghee Halwa.
Today I present…the world famous ‘Thirunelveli Halwa’ recipe! A regional Speciality Dessert! Thirunelveli/ Tirunelveli is situated in South Tamil Nadu. The city is 2000 years old(maybe much more). Has a rich History right from the 1-2 Century B.C. The word ‘Thiru + Nel + Veli’ literally means ‘Sacred + Paddy + Fence’, from the name one can understand that it has rich paddy feilds!
I am fascinated by this famous sweet from this city ‘The Halwa’! Although Halwa is common through out India…it is kind of unique from this place! Pappa has several times stopped to buy me KG’s and KG’s of this Halwa from that famous sweet stall….the legendary ‘Iruttu Kadai’! The ‘Iruttu Kadai’ translated as ‘A Dark Shop’! Yeah, as the name implies…this shop doenst have any electricity/power supply! The shop doesn’t have any modern trends either! The shop doesn’t even posses itself a ‘name board’ too. One cannot believe, that from this shop they export and run business/sell Halwa through out the world!!! The heritage is maintained in this shop right from the day they started! Its been 200 years!!!
Well…this is a ‘Wheat based Halwa Recipe’, I know some of you are already raising your brows! Though Thirunelveli is famous for ‘Rice’ why a ‘Wheat Sweet’ got so famous? This Halwa was made famous by a Marwadi(Jain Community)family which settled there 300 years ago! It is said that the original shop started by them was called ‘Lakshmi Vilas’! Slowly, others borrowed their formula and now the halwa has become synonymous with the city!
Also this Halwa has a unique taste! It is said that the richness of this Unique taste comes from the water they use! Traditionally it was/is cooked with ‘Thamirabarani’ river water(that flows across the city). Though the recipe is copied and duplicated around Tamil Nadu, now…but no one can absolutely take over Thirunelveli’s traditional sweet business! People always value tradition & identify the originality!
Well…I have been perfecting this recipe since my school days! When I was in +2, my mommy gave me some tips…which helped to imitate the authentic Halwa! Sounds kool huh. Here you go ‘Home Adapted Version’.
Ingredients:
Good quality whole wheat grain 1/2 kilo
Clean extra white Sugar 1 kilo(that’s right twice the quantity of wheat)
Good quality Ghee 1 kilo(Hmmmm…I know it sounds more, you will be amazed at the way this halwa absorbs it)
Cardamon seeds powder 2-4 spoons
Crystal Clear Water 3-4 litres
Ghee fried slitted cashew nuts
Red Food Color 1/4 spoon(optional)
Saffron 1/4 spoon(optional)
Powdered saago 1-2 spoons(this actually gives glossy appearance)
Method:
Wash wheat several times in running water or until water runs clear.
Then soak the wheat in crystal clear water for at least 8-10 hours.(preferably overnight)
Wet grind the wheat, using the same soaked water. And filter it to collect clear ‘wheat milk’. Yeah please throw away the husk.
Place this ‘wheat extract/wheat milk’ in the fridge for 20-30 minutes or much more.
You will notice, the milk has separated into….bottom with thick milk and on top with water. Now carefully discard the water. Maybe carefully use ink filler/pipette it out.
To this thick milk add sugar and wait till they dissolve. The milk thickens at this time again.(if you want to color it, you can add color to it now)
Heat a large, wide, heavy bottomed ‘Iron wok’. Add few cups of ghee and start adding the ‘wheat milk’ to it. Stir constantly…..cook over low-medium heat.
Add saggo powder too.
When the halwa is bubbly and about to consolidate, Pour in the ghee now. Stir in.
One can add cardamon seeds powder + saffron. Add fried fried nuts and raisins now.
When Halwa consistency is achieved…..it will leave from the wok.
It turns up into glossy reddish brown color.
If someone wants to have their ‘Halwa’ still more ‘glossy’ or ‘bead like’ or ‘glass-like’……one can add more powdered saago to it!
Spread this halwa in a tray and refridgerate for a while. Then you will find it easy to cut them into desired shapes.
am amazed by the effort you took..lovely Malar..feel like tasting it now itself..yum..
it was just yday I read a whole feature abt Halwa..Kozhikode is a place in kerala known all around the world just for halwa’s..There they make it in massive kadai’s n its such a huge effort..In the recipe they have asked to strain the wheat solution many times to get the quality “wheat milk”..:)
Thanks for sharing this recipe & the effort you put in it.
The picture looks tempting & i feel like steeling it from your plate !
Looks perfect, Malar. My husband likes it so much..nice to have the recipe now
Really am also amazed and stunned after seeing your wonderful effort Malar…Chance illa Malar, no words to say about the attempt..Halwa looks very much tempting, i wanna to come dere to have this…Very very good effort Malar..
Eeruthukadai halwa is quiet popular, I ve been there once. That is look absolutely delicous and perfect!
Touching write up as always..The term thirunelveli halwa itself is having a magic with it..And i can guess how the marwadis are into rich food..they are great cooks !!
And pretty much interesting about ‘iruttukada’..so lovely..i have seen some of such shops as a child..not now anyway..But you know these tradiotional shops make us wonder with the taste..They know and serve what people need.
Dear,this is definitely a unique sweet for valentines Day..Happy Valentines day in advance..Enjoy.
Aha Malar this is super! My Dad is from Tirunelvi.My aunt always told me that her Rasam tastes well coz of the Thamarabharani water….and i used to laugh at her:).I remember the Iruttu Kada Halwa:-P.I’ve never tried making this, always felt it was a difficult one to make…ur blog makes me tempting..i will surely try this….lemme first look for wheat here.Wonderful one Malar!
Wow..Perfect halwa malar. Even i have tried the same way, came out really well.. can u send me a parcel of the whole plate dear..???! he hhee.. Enjoy
wow ! i am drooling right now …one of my fav sweets.hey thanks da for wonderful recipe .
Beautiful sweet and gorgeous color to celebrate V day!! Have fun weekend sweetie!
wow Malar, what a perfect Tiunelveli Halwa. Love to read every word in ur blog. Nice color and pics. can I take my share:)
oh my god…malar.this looks fantastic…..we appreciate your effort in preparing this….did u do it in india?anyway great recepie
wow mouthwatering..lovely color and perfect for Valentines…Have a Happy Valentines day..
Oh my god, this is toooo delicious n gorgeous, my all time favourite halwa..lovely lovely, love to have rite now:(send me some dear:d..happy Valentine’s day:)
Amazing Malar! Thats a hard work you did… Pls send me a packet of that halwa by UPS… Looks lovely and nice step by step instructions… well done.
Absolutely delicious Malar….its my favourite…been a while since i had it…looks lovely….really appreciate your effort dear….i know its not very easy to make it…Thanks for sharing.
oru varthai illaye idhai sappada mudiyaleye…………..
idai netil thaan padithida mudigiradhe……..
Tips, explanation, photos are perfect and appetizing.
Happy Valentine’s Day! <3
Very Nice Read Malar & a Delicious Looking halwa! I love the texture & the glaze.. yes when something is famous they do not need a name board.. people just flock by the reputation & quality! Thanks for sharing.
Malar,
Mmmm, the famous thirunelveli halwa, didn’t know that we get it in Oxford too?!!!
your halwa is simply looking perfect and glossy and nutty, exactly like those from the shops, the rich color and the ghee-rich consistency, it’s all perfect!
So, this is for the Valentine’s Day, hmmm, malliga poo thaane koraiyuthu!!! Happy Valentine’s day!!!
Happy V Day!
Hi Malar,
Happy Valentine’s day to you!!
I will never raise my eye brow to this delicious looking Indian sweet!Heck, I myself, always opt for the unconventional way of doing anything in my life! Passion can make one work wonders!
I would love to make this for my dad( who is Indian) and show off! ha! ha!
Wow! wonderful recipe.. love this halwa..has turned out so perfect! Great explanation in the method..Nice pic too!
my god malar! the efoort you’ve put in. you really have loads of patience. the halwa luks out of the world!
Hi Malar,
First time here. You have a pretty cool Blog. I have been looking for this halwa recipe for quiet some time now. I am glad that i found your blog. Hlawa looks very yummy.Where can i get the saggo powder? Thanks for the recipe.
luscious halwa,I always have a hard time making a lump-free halwa.
Hi malar!
lovely halwa!! have to sweat it out to bring out perfect taste in food.. you are perfect example
Sonal
Looks authentic and phenomenal@
your halwa looks mouth watering i tried it yesterday came out very good i mixed the husk of wheat to my dosa batter and made dosas tasted very good ands crisp try it out if possible