Raisins halwa is commonly known as Kishmish ka halwa in Hindi. It is a very rich sweet made with generous amount of ghee (clarified butter).
Raisins Halwa is a very yummy, mouth-watering Indian sweet dessert made with coarsely paste of raisins, sweetened with sugar, flavoured with cardamom powder, thickened with cornstarch and richness from the ghee added into, to make this sweet which just melts into your mouth. Raisins halwa is commonly known as Kishmish ka halwa in Hindi.
It is a very rich sweet made with generous amount of ghee (clarified butter) which nicely binds the mix of cashew nuts, sweetened raisins mixture and slightly added with little cornstarch to make the mixture into a thick substance that helps in cutting the sweet into small cubes and served. This sweet is incredibly luscious, flavourful and you can get a burst of raisin with every bite of sweet to take; as the raisin mixture is coarsely ground for giving a pleasant and stimulating feel to the palate.
Halwa:
Halwa is a very traditional Indian delicacy that is prepared for most auspicious religious functions, festival and special parties. Indian cuisine is talented in making numerous varieties of halwa that one can make from flour(s), nuts, vegetables, lentils, fruits etc. Halwa is called by different names such as halawa, halvah, halva, halua etc which actually refers to many type of dense sweet confections served across the Middle East, Asian countries, North Africa, Balkans, Central & Eastern Europe, Malta and the Jewish world.
Traditionally the term Halva means “sweet” and is used to describe two types of desserts: Flour based, this type is slightly gelatinous and made from grain flour typically semolina and the basic primary ingredients used are clarified butter, flour and sugar while the other is the Nut butter based as this type of halwa has a crumbling texture and usually made from sesame paste or other nut butter like sunflower seed butter. The primary ingredients of making this are nut butter and sugar.
Raisins:
Raisins are one of the most popular and versatile dried fruits available in the market today. The process of drying grapes into raisins has been carried out since ancient times. Initially it was mentioned in the Old Testament that raisins were produced in Persia and Egypt. The ancient Romans used raisins as barter currency and prize awards for winners of sporting events. Raisins are extensively used in making of various sweet delicacies in India. They are also used in garnishing flavoured rice such as Kashmiri pulao which gives a nice spicy and sweet savour to the dish.
The golden raisins which are tangy and sweet are used for flavouring a variety of savoury and sweet dishes making them popular in Indian cuisine. These plump sweet fruits are also added to dishes such as mild and creamy korma dishes, rice based preparations like pulao (Zafrani pulao), pilaf and biryani, desserts like payasam/kheer/rice pudding and halwa, chutneys and they are also added to many south Indian sweet that includes paramannam, sweet pongal/ sakkarai pongal. So, raisins as an ingredient is highly versatile and enhances the flavours and taste of the dish in which it is added to.
There are two types of common raisins, dark and golden. Dark are the most well known, which begin as green grapes and naturally darken as they dry. These raisins are usually the product of Raisins are a popular dried fruit because they are versatile and have a considerable shelf life. Raisins are best when they are moist and undamaged. Raisins are a great addition to homemade granola or can also be sprinkled over a scrumptious bowl of cereals that can be eaten for breakfast. Raisins go well in most baked goods such as bread, muffins and cookies.
Popular Raisin recipes:
Raisins are usually used in flavouring a variety of sweet and savoury dishes. Raisins can be cooked in various methods. They can be baked, boiled, steamed, roasted, fried, mashed or cut into pieces.
Some of the popular dishes made using raisins are:
Seena with Raisins CurryBroccoli Carrot Raisin Salad Christmas Cake Raisin Cake Butter Milk Raisin Walnuts Muffins Rum and Raisin Baked Cheesecake Peanut and raisins cookies Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Carrot Raisin Cheesecake
Nutritive value of Raisins:
Raisins are highly prized for their special food value. They are made from grapes which have a natural sweet taste and are highly nutritious. Raisins are rich in fibre, antioxidants and free from cholesterol and fat. They are naturally rich in fructose and low in sodium.These little golden tiny puffed balls are rich providers of energy and hence beneficial for children and athletes or sports persons.
Raisins can help alleviate digestion disorders such as constipation. Consuming raisins on a regular basis can keep heart ailments and colon cancer at bay. While adding raisins to a daily diet can be beneficial to men and women alike, women can reap extra benefits. Raisins contain high levels of Boron, which is a substance that is essential for bone health. Boron is an important substance for women to help fight the onset of Osteoporosis.
How to make Raisins Halwa Kishmish ka Halwa:
Ingredients:
Raisins - 500 gms
Cardamom powder - ¼ tsp
Cashew nuts - 20 gms
Corn starch - ½ cup
Ghee - 1 ½ cup
Sugar - 1 ½ cup
Water - 150 ml
Directions:
Soak raisins in water over night and drain the water and put it in the blender to make a coarse paste. Take corn starch in a bowl and add little water to make thin slurry. Heat ghee in a pan and when it becomes hot, add cashew nuts, sugar, water and cook till sugar is dissolved.Add raisins paste and cook till it comes to a boil. Add the corn starch slurry and keep mixing continuously adding ghee slowly. The ladle must become heavy at one point, off time it will become thick and the ghee will ooze out
Add cardamom powder, mix well and transfer the halwa into a greased tray. Let it cool down and cut into desired pieces. Because of their versatility, raisins can be added to any diet. No matter the colour - golden or traditional brown, raisins are a delicious and essential part of a healthy diet for all ages.Apart from which, they also enhance the taste of the dish. Start enjoying the benefits of this economical dried fruit today!
Why still wait? Go ahead, check the video on making of this wonderful dish and enjoy cooking.