Indian
Vegan
Gluten freeHaalbai
Rice, coconut and jaggery fudge
ಹಾಲುಬಾಯಿ: soft set fudge of ground rice, coconut and jaggery, cut into diamonds (plus 4 hours soaking)
Haalbai is a home sweet of Malnad and coastal Karnataka, from Shivamogga to Udupi, made for festivals like Ganesha Chaturthi and Deepavali or simply when there's fresh coconut in the house. Soaked rice is ground with coconut, then cooked with jaggery and cardamom until it thickens into a glossy mass that sets soft and slightly chewy, almost like a firm halwa. A common mistake is stopping too early; if it isn't cooked until it leaves the sides and a drop rolls into a ball, it never sets for cutting. Chef's tip: stir with a long wooden spoon and wear an oven glove, because the thick mix bubbles and spits towards the end.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Serves
- 10
- Per serving
- 230 kcal
Ingredients
- 7 oz raw ricesoaked 4 hours
- 5 ½ oz fresh grated coconut
- 2 ½ cups water
- 9 oz jaggerygrated
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oilfor greasing
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Grease a 20 cm plate or tin with 1 tbsp coconut oil.
1 minStep 2: Drain 7 oz raw rice and grind with 5 ½ oz fresh grated coconut and half the 2 ½ cups water to a very smooth, thin batter. Rinse the jar with the remaining water and add it.
8 minStep 4: Keep stirring constantly as it thickens, scraping the bottom, until the mix turns glossy, pulls away from the pan in one mass and a drop rolls into a soft ball, 30–35 minutes.
33 minStep 5: Stir in 1 tsp ground cardamom, spread into the tin about 2 cm thick and smooth the top with an oiled spatula.
2 minStep 6: Leave 1 hour to set, then cut into diamonds.
0 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does haalbai take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- 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 raw rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of jaggery?
- Dark brown or muscovado sugar, same amount.
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