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Moong dal halva - dessert made from mung beans and pistachios also known as Mung daal halwa

Mung Daal Halwa

Priya Deshingkar
A sweet and sustaining dessert from North India, courtesy of Deccan Tiffin
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Indian
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g dried mung beans yellow ones without the green skins
  • 250 g unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder available in Asian shops or make at home by taking the seeds out of the pods and grinding them
  • 150 g of sugar - you can reduce or increase the quantity to suit your taste
  • 1/2 pint of milk - you may not need all of this
  • 1 teaspoon pistachio slivers
  • 1 small sheet of edible silver optional for decoration

Instructions
 

  • Dry roast the mung beans in a frying pan (on medium heat) until they slightly change colour and start to smell toasted.
  • Let them cool. Grind them into a coarse powder and set aside.
  • Heat the block of butter in a heavy bottomed wok or deep pan.
  • When it is all melted, lower the heat to medium and add the mung bean powder.
  • Stir this around until the powder goes another shade darker but take care not to let it burn.
  • Add the sugar and cardamom powder and stir so that it is distributed evenly in the mixture. At this stage the mixture will look quite runny.
  • Lower the heat and start adding the milk about 4 tablespoons at a time.
  • The halwa will start to thicken. Continue doing this until the halwa comes together and leaves the sides of the pan. It should have the consistency of a soft dough.
  • Taste a bit to see if the mung bean powder is cooked. If it is slightly crunchy that is fine but it should not taste raw.
  • Let the halwa cool down a little bit before spooning into a mould of your choice.
  • Sprinkle with pistachio slivers and apply the edible silver sheet before serving for a really professional look.
Keyword dessert