There was a time when chana dal was the only ‘acceptable’ dal that could be served to the royals. Today, every Indian household stocks chana dal (split Bengal grams) at home, and it has become a tradition (it was mentioned in the Vishnu Purana centuries ago!). It’s versatile cooking applications and long shelf-life make it perfect for home use.
Chana dal is produced by removing the outer layer of chickpeas and then splitting the chickpea into two halves. We know about chana dal’s use for a variety of recipes like chana dal fry, chutneys, Indian pancakes, dal vadas, etc. But we haven’t heard much about chana ki dal ka halwa. In this article, we’ll tell you about an easy chana dal halwa recipe that you can make at home.
This chana dal halwa recipe is the easiest way to make a healthy dessert at home.
Preparation time: 8 hours
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 cup chana dal
3-4 cups milk (you can also use low-fat milk)
3/4 cup ghee (use pure desi ghee)
1 cup sugar (or jaggery)
8-10 chopped almonds (you can also add other nuts of your choice)
1 tbsp raisins (black or brown)
1/4 tsp cardamom (elaichi) powder
Method
Step 1
Soak 1 cup of chana dal for 6-7 hours. You can also soak it overnight.
Step 2
Add half the amount of milk you are using to a pan and turn on the heat. Let the milk boil.
Step 3
Then add soaked chana dal to the pan. Don’t turn off the heat until all the milk evaporates.
Step 4
Once the milk evaporates, the chana dal will be very soft. Whip it up in a fine paste or grind it.
Step 5
Add some ghee to a pan, and once the ghee is heated, add the chana dal paste to it. Keep stirring until the ghee separates from the chana dal paste.
Step 6
Add the remaining cups of milk in this mixture, raisins, chopped almonds or other nuts, cardamom powder and sugar.
Step 7
Keep stirring the mixture until it is thick in consistency and binds together (about 10 minutes). Take it out in a bowl, garnish it with nuts of your choice, and you are done!
It tastes best when it’s hot! Indulge your tastebuds in this delicious treat!
What are the health benefits of this tempting chana dal halwa recipe? Here are some:
Helps in the reduction of bad cholesterol: According to research published in the ‘Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism,’ a chickpea-supplemented diet can reduce total cholesterol and bad cholesterol, as opposed to a diet supplemented by wheat. Chana dal is made from chickpeas. The recipe is also low in cholesterol.
Helps you reduce calorie consumption: Legumes like chana dal can help you feel full, which means you don’t overeat, found a study published in the journal ‘Obesity‘. Great for weight loss.
Better muscle health and mass: Chana dal is rich in protein, and protein serves as a building block for our bodies.
Aids weight loss: Chana dal is very high in dietary fibre that leads to bulkier stools and prevents incomplete elimination. This helps in maintaining a healthy weight.
Better bone health: Calcium is important for bone and teeth, says the ‘National Institutes of Health‘. This chana dal halwa recipe provides for 22.9% of the recommended daily calcium intake.
Sugar Cravings – Tick!
Chana dal is so important to India that a team of researchers studied it in depth. They traced its origins to the Mediterranean region and found a way to increase productivity that can reduce chickpea loss in South Asia, according to The Times of India.
While the scientists and farmers do their work, you can prepare this delicious chana dal halwa recipe at home and enjoy its unique flavour. It’s created to impress! After every bite you take of this chana ki dal ka halwa, your mind and heart will say in unison, “One more spoon please?”