Chana dal halwa recipe, easy to make halwa recipe with step by step pictures and video, perfect for Indian festivals. I have tried moong dal halwa and wanted to try chana dal halwa for a long time. Some time back when we had a potluck, one of our friend made this chana dal halwa. It tasted so yum and asked her for the recipe later. She sent the recipe with exact measurements and shared the nuances of the recipe too. I kept on postponing to try that out, as festival season is up, i thought this is the right time to try and share the recipe. Only the soaking of chana dal takes time, otherwise i can say this is an easy recipe to try out. As Janmashtami is on August 23rd , check out my collection of Janmashtami recipes

Chana dal halwa recipe

• Recipe Cusine: Indian
• Prep Time: 2 hours
• Cook time: 35 Minutes
• Serves: 4-5
• Author: Jeyashri
• Recipe Category: Sweet
• Description: Chana dal halwa recipe, easy to make halwa recipe with step by step pictures and video, perfect for Indian festivals.

     Chana dal  1/2 cup
     Ghee  1/4 cup
     Milk  1 cup + 2 tsp
     Sugar  1/2 cup
     Cardamom powder  2 pinches
     Sliced almonds | pistachios  2-3 tblsp
     Saffron  7-9 strands 

Method :

• Soak 1/2 cup of chana dal for 2 hours in water.
• Pressure cook this till 3 whistles.
• Drain the water completely.
• Allow this to cool completely.
• Grind this into a fine paste, without adding any water. 
• Meanwhile soak the saffron in 2 tsp warm milk.
• In a heavy bottomed pan add 1/4 cup of ghee and once it is hot add the ground paste.
• Mix it well.
• Keep the flame low and cook this chana dal paste in the ghee for 20 minutes.
• The dal has to change colour and it will emit a nice aromatic, nutty smell. 
• Now add 1 cup of milk to this. Use either raw milk or boiled cooled milk.
• Add 1/2 cup of sugar. This quantity was perfect but if you want bit more sweet add 3/4 cup too.
• I used raw sugar.
• Add the saffron soaked  milk to this. 
• Mix well.
• Cook till the milk completely evaporates. 
• At one stage the halwa will start leaving the pan.
• Now add the cardamom powder.
• Mix well.
• Add the chopped nuts and mix well.
• Switch off the flame.
• Chana dal halwa is ready.

Notes:

1. Instead of 1 cup milk, you can add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk. But i recommend to add milk only for a richer taste.
2. Ensure the chana dal is nicely roasted in ghee, else halwa won't taste good. 
3. Saffron gives a nice color to the chana dal halwa, but if needed you can add a pinch of yellow food colour. 

   

                                      Video of how to make Chana dal halwa

Method with step by step pictures :

• Soak 1/2 cup of chana dal for 2 hours in water.
• Pressure cook this till 3 whistles.

• Drain the water completely.
• Allow this to cool completely.
• Grind this into a fine paste, without adding any water. 

• Meanwhile soak the saffron in 2 tsp warm milk.
• In a heavy bottomed pan add 1/4 cup of ghee and once it is hot add the ground paste.
• Mix it well.

• Keep the flame low and cook this chana dal paste in the ghee for 20 minutes.
• The dal has to change colour and it will emit a nice aromatic, nutty smell. 

• Now add 1 cup of milk to this. Use either raw milk or boiled cooled milk.
• Add 1/2 cup of sugar. This quantity was perfect but if you want bit more sweet add 3/4 cup too.
• I used raw sugar.

• Add the saffron soaked  milk to this. 
• Mix well.

• Cook till the milk completely evaporates. 
• At one stage the halwa will start leaving the pan.
• Now add the cardamom powder.

• Mix well.
• Add the chopped nuts and mix well.
• Switch off the flame.
• Chana dal halwa is ready.

Notes:

1. Instead of 1 cup milk, you can add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup milk. But i recommend to add milk only for a richer taste.
2. Ensure the chana dal is nicely roasted in ghee, else halwa won't taste good. 
3. Saffron gives a nice color to the chana dal halwa, but if needed you can add a pinch of yellow food colour.