Celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti with this mouthwatering chana dal ka halwa recipe

Guru Nanak Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It's a prominent and pious festival, celebrated by people of the Sikh community all over the world, and also by those from all the diverse communities within India. For this sacred occasion, a traditional Indian dessert recipe, chana dal ka halwa, is prepared with devotion and love and served to devotees. This rich and creamy dessert consists of split chickpeas, sugar, ghee, and spices.

Halwa is a common Indian sweet meat, commonly prepared during family get-togethers as well as festivals. Chana dal ka halwa has religious and cultural significance and is served with reverence on the day of Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Chana Dal Ka Halwa:

Ingredients:

• 251 gm chana daal
• 502 ml water
• 253 gm ghee
• 254 gm sugar
• 2 tsp cardamom
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• A pinch of salt
• 1 tbsp almonds
• 1 tbsp pistachios
• 2 tsp rose water

Method:

1. First, you have to rinse the chana daal well and soak it in water for more than four hours.
2. Then, you can remove the soaked dal, drain out excess water from it, and grind it to a coarse paste.
3. After that, you have to heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat.
4. Then, you need to add the ground dal paste to it and cook on low heat by stirring it frequently till it reaches a golden brown color. This will take you around 20-25 minutes.
5. Next, you can keep stirring it on low fire for the next 10-15 minutes.
6. Then, you have to add the sugar, ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt, and stir well.
7. After that, you have to combine everything nicely and continue cooking it for another five to seven minutes. You must remember to keep mixing it from time to time.
8. Next, you can stir in some chopped almonds, chopped pistachios, and also rose water, for a beautiful fragrance and flavor.
9. After that, you have to keep mixing it constantly and continue to cook for another two to three minutes
10. Then, you have to remove it from the heat and let it cool down.
11. Finally you can serve it warm or cold, with some chopped pistachios as toppings.

This is a fairly straightforward recipe that does not require advanced cooking experience. Irrespective of whether you are a new cook or a seasoned chef, you are likely to be able to prepare this by following the methods and tips. Despite its simplicity, there are some ways in which you can enhance the flavors of this recipe. One of the ways is if you choose to add a pinch of saffron threads for a vibrant yellow color, a beautiful fragrance, and an absolutely delicious flavor. You should mix in dried fruits, like cranberries or raisins, and nuts like cashews in the halwa because they will enhance the overall flavors. You can also use jaggery powder or honey instead of sugar in this recipe.

Making this halwa takes love and patience, and if it turns out really thick, you just have to add a little bit of water and give it a good mix to adjust the consistency. On the other hand, if the halwa is thin and runny, you have to cook it for a few minutes longer on low to medium flame.

While serving, you must remember to garnish it with chopped nuts or dried fruits. It would be great if you could serve the halwa in small earthen pots or bowls. This dish must be prepared and consumed as an offering or prasad for Guru Nanak Jayanti.

The chief ingredient of this recipe, that is, chana dal is rich in protein, fiber, and minerals.

This traditional chana dal ka halwa recipe is sure to become a seamless addition to the list of delectable treats that you or your family members offer as prasad on this pious day and make your Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations even sweeter. You can prepare it in a big batch for all your friends and family members, and heat it up a little bit just before serving so that the flavors remain fresh and fragrant.