Date Halwa (Khajur no Halvo)

Ingredients

• 1 cup dates (pitted)
• 1/3 cup warm milk (I used whole milk)
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 2 tsp ghee plus more for rolling out the date balls
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• pinch salt
• 1 pinch saffron
• 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
• 3/4 cup pistachios (chopped (or nuts of your choice – I used equal parts pistachios, almonds and white poppy seeds))

Instructions

1. Soak the dates in the warm milk. Let soak for at least one hour.
2. Puree the dates and milk in the blender.
3. Heat a heavy bottomed pan and add the almond flour. Toast until fragrant. Make sure to stir continuously so that the almond flour does not burn.
4. Add the ghee and pureed dates.
5. Stir and cook over medium high heat until thickened, about 10 minutes.
6. Add the salt, saffron, cardamom, nutmeg and mascarpone cheese.
7. Stir and cook for 5 more minutes until the edges are starting to pull away from the pan. Let cool for about 15 minutes.
8. Transfer the date mixture to a bowl and refrigerate for about an hour or more.
9. Once the mixture is cold, dip your hands in some ghee and smear it over your palms (this will help the date mixture not stick when you’re rolling it into balls)
10. Scoop out 1 tablespoon of date mixture at a time and roll into balls.
11. Roll the date balls over the chopped nuts.
12. Keep the date halwa refrigerated.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 137
• Carbohydrates: 13
• Protein: 3
• Fat: 9
• Saturated Fat: 3
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1
• Monounsaturated Fat: 2
• Cholesterol: 7
• Sodium: 6
• Potassium: 169
• Fiber: 2
• Sugar: 9
• Vitamin A: 110
• Vitamin C: 1
• Calcium: 37
• Iron: 1