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Bhutte ka halwa
Indore's golden sweetcorn halwa (भुट्टे का हलवा), roasted in ghee and cooked down with milk and cardamom
In monsoon Indore, when the fields around the city are full of tender maize, sweet shops turn the same corn into halwa: kernels ground coarsely, roasted in ghee until they smell like buttered popcorn, then cooked with milk and sugar until glossy. It is lighter and less cloying than many halwas, with a gentle bite from the corn. Families make it for guests and for small festivals, and it is just as good warm from the pan or at room temperature the next day. Chef's tip: grind the corn in short pulses to a coarse, porridgy texture; a smooth purée turns gluey and sticks.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pulse 14 oz sweetcorn kernels in a blender in short bursts to a coarse, grainy paste, scraping down once. Don't add water.
Step 2: Heat 2 ⅛ oz ghee in a heavy kadai on medium-low. Fry 2 tbsp cashew nuts for a minute until golden and lift out.
Step 3: Add the corn to the ghee and stir steadily for 12–15 minutes. It goes from pale and wet to dry, fragrant and golden, the ghee begins to separate at the edges, and it smells nutty and toasty.
15 minStep 4: Pour in 1 ¼ cups whole milk carefully (it splutters) and cook on medium, stirring, for 8–10 minutes until the milk is absorbed and the mixture is thick.
10 minStep 5: Add 2 ⅞ oz sugar and ½ tsp ground cardamom. The halwa loosens as the sugar melts; keep stirring for 5–6 minutes until it thickens again, turns glossy and pulls away from the sides as one mass.
6 minStep 6: Stir in most of the fried cashews and serve warm, topped with the rest and 1 tbsp almonds.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bhutte ka halwa take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ghee?
- Butter, same amount (keep the heat a little lower, butter burns sooner).
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
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