Dates Halwa

The other day we had a kind Omani friend of ours drop in our house and hand us two full boxes of red dates grown in his garden. They tasted so good and were quite fleshy. But two full boxes of dates .... ??? I know we cant eat all of them. Scratching my head for a catchy jingle in vain, I toyed with ideas for milk shakes, sweets etc. It was only after a good scanning of the web that I thought that I should be more proactive and convert these sensational fruits into a dessert topped with more dry fruits and chill it so that it can be consumed any time of the day. Also,with the heat getting unbearable and the energies draining out, we love to chill our fruits and salads to refresh ourselves.The result was amazing.

Needless to say, Dates are the crowning glory at all Omani home. With sticky, ruby juices oozing out, they pair beautifully with anything from such choice of a hearty breakfast to start the day. I know that a healthy breakfast should always include some warm, bubbling fruit topped with sweet, crunchy crumble. But it is not many times in a week that we can have this for breakfast except for weekends when we have ample time to prepare a hearty meal.

I don't recommend Halwa for breakfast even though dates are loaded with soluble and insoluble fibres that can keep our bowels perfectly healthy. Because this halwa contains ingredients that are ideal for the Dessert table.




So this is how I made the dates halwa :


INGREDIENTS:

1/2 kg dates, washed and deseeded

1/2 cup ghee/clarified butter
250 gm khoya
1/2 cup semolina (sooji)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp. rose water

 To Decorate:

50 gm almonds, chopped
50 gm pistachio, chopped
A handful of sliced dates

 

 

HOW TO MAKE:

 

1)  Boil the deseeded dates in hot water for ten minutes or until soft.

 

2)  Blend them coarsely in a mixer.

 

3) Heat clarified butter in a vessel, add the semolina and roast it till it shows a light brownish color.

 

4) Add the dates puree and mix well. Cook this till it starts to thicken.

 

5) Add the sugar and the Khoya and combine till thick and ghee starts to leave the sides of the vessel.

 

6) At this stage add the rose water. Cook for 5 more minutes and transfer the same to a serving dish.

 

7) Decorate the Halwa with the chopped nuts and dates.