The holidays are the perfect time to bring out those seasonal, satisfying warm dishes that the whole family can enjoy. Sweet potatoes are a popular item on Thanksgiving and Christmas menus, but that doesn’t mean they’ve worn out their welcome!
The fibrous and healthy vegetable is a great base for a delicious halwa dish. Halwa is an Indian dessert made of a vegetable, milk, sugar, and spices. Whether it is served hot or cold, it is goes well with holiday cheer!
Ingredients:
(Recipe makes about 8 servings)
6 medium sweet potatoes
1 1/4 cups of milk (you can use skim or almond milk too)
8 tsp. of sugar
1 tsp. cardamom powder (not pictured)
1/2 cup of mixed chopped nuts (I used pistachios and cashews)
A few strands of saffron
2 tsp. of oil (not pictured)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
How-To:
1. Boil the sweet potatoes until they are soft. The fastest way is to steam them in a pressure cooker for about 20 minutes.
2. When the sweet potatoes are cooked, peel them carefully and mash them in a large bowl.
3. Heat the oil in a large, thick-bottomed pan on low-medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the mashed sweet potatoes to the pan.
4. Saute the sweet potatoes in the oil for about 5 minutes.
5. Add the milk, sugar, and cardamom powder to the mixture. Stir thoroughly.
6. When the halwa begins to thicken, add a tbsp of warm milk mixed with saffron strands to the mixture. Stir occasionally.
7. Allow the sweet potatoes to simmer until the milk has mostly evaporated and the mixture reaches a thick, gooey consistency. The mixture should be sticking to the edge of the pan.
8. Garnish the halwa with nuts sprinkled on top.
9. Serve the sweet potato halwa hot or cold, and enjoy!