Dussehra is widely celebrated festival of India among Hindus to recognize Rama’s victory over evil. It has no religious significance for Sikhs however I do enjoy it as a cultural thing and love to prepare something sweet to mark the festive occasion. When I think of sweets the first thing that comes to my mind is halwa. Also spelled halva, it is a sweet pudding typically served as a dessert, with coffee or tea after a meal or as a snack. It can be prepared from flour, fruit, vegetable, lentil or nuts. Here, I am glad to share a recipe of halwa which is flour less, dairy and nut free.
During fall a huge stock of pumpkin and squash of all shapes and sizes come in the market. I felt it was appropriate to choose something that celebrates thanksgiving and dusshera together in one because this year they fall on October 14th. So in order to make this halwa I chose winter squash, which is a classic component of the thanksgiving feast and a commonly made sweet during Navratri fast. Navratri is a nine day festival celebrated by Hindus with great devotion which ends on tenth day with the blissful celebration of Dussehra. During the fasting period people are confine to milk and certain kind of vegetables, flours and fruits.
Squash is one fruit that works well for both savory and sweet preparations. Of all the winter squashes I find butternut squash the best for this particular halwa, because of its sweet nutty taste and smooth texture. Its beautiful orange color flesh reflects its rich concentration of health promoting beta carotene.
The preparation is similar to gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding) but takes much lesser time and very little oil. And the end result is still surprisingly delicious!
An exotic halwa prepared from butternut squash. Delicious and nutritious!
Ingredients
- 1 medium butternut squash
- 1/4 cup sugar or 3/4 cup ground dried apricot
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/4 cup dried goji berries or raisins
- 3 tbs oil or more if you like
Instructions
- Peel the squash with a sharp vegetable peeler. Remove seeds and pith.
- In a food processor fitted with the grating attachment or on a box cutter, coarsely grate the squash (you will have about 8 cups grated squash).
- Soak dried goji berries in just enough water to cover.
- Heat oil in a thick bottom pan on medium. Add grated squash. Cover it for 5 minutes. This will draw water from the squash and help soften.
- Uncover, add sugar (or apricot mixture if using) cook stirring intermittently for 25 minutes or until the halwa reduces into deep amber and glossy mixture.
- Squeeze all water from goji berries, add it to the halwa. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Add cardamom powder, mix well and take off from the heat.
- Serve with tea or coffee.
Notes
Exact measurements are not critical for this recipe. So feel free to adjust quantities to your own taste.
If goji berries are hard to find at your place, you could easily replace it with raisins, melon seeds or nuts.
Shared at Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Gluten Free Fridays.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
Such a healthy and delicious pumpkin recipe. I love the add of goji berries.
Anupreet Sandhu
Looks yummy!! Will try
Balvinder
Please do and let me know how you like.
Sugar et al
What a lovely halwa! The fact that you have added goji berries makes it even better. The colour is so pretty. I have never tried out a pumpkin halwa and I think this is just the time!
Balvinder
You must try Sonali, it is easy plus healthy.
shobhnaa
Delicious…..lovely presentation with similar colored leaves. Are goji berries similar to raisins?
Balvinder
Thank you Shobnna! Goji berries are dried and they do look and taste similar to raisins but slightly bitter.
Blackswan
Thks for sharing this delightful Dussehra festival! I’m a fan of pumpkin but sadly, not many appreciates this healthy vegetable :<
Balvinder
I didn’t know there are people who do not appreciate this berry, I like it a lot.
Coffee and Crumpets
Happy Thanksgiving and Dussehra to you Balvinder! What a lovely way to celebrate! This pumpkin halwa looks delicious and it is so much easier than gajar ka halwa. Gorgeous colour, especially with the addition of the Goji berries.
Nazneen
Balvinder
Thank you for the wishes! Well Nazneen, I added goji berries because their slight tartness taste good in sweet halwa and provides a nice contrast to the creamy orange texture of pumpkin.
Monica
Lovely colors and this sounds very easy to make, which is always a plus. I feel like it would be nourishing and satisfying but also healthy and light at the same time. It’s great to learn about other dessert options…this makes me think of Chinese dessert soups (like sweet potato) that I love. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and friends in Canada!
Balvinder
Thanks a lot Monica! It has all the pluses of being easy, light, delicious and nutritious. Did you say dessert soup? sounds interesting!
Monica
Hi Balvinder – yes…in my Chinese culture, we have lots of dessert soups (red bean, tapioca, black sesame, etc.). The simplest one I like to make is sweet potato with ginger. You “season” the water with some pieces of smashed ginger, cook the sweet potato chunks in it until softened, then sweeten the liquid to taste with Chinese brown sugar bars. I like it piping hot! Have a great week! : )
Viviane Bauquet Farre - Food and Style
Ooh, this looks so good, Balvinder! Thanks for sharing.
easyfoodsmith
I love pumpkin halwa but my family can’t stand it. Cooking something just for myself doesn’t excite me however, seeing your post I am craving for it…perhaps its time to make it for myself.
anne
And I thought only Chinese use goji berries 😀 I love pumpkin and your pumpkin halwa sounds delicious !
Malti Sharma
This sounds simple and super delicious! We do eat pumpkin sweet for Navratris but never made it without milk or khoya. The colors are just popping out of the screen. Have a wonderful time!
Sonal
A very colorful and delicious and healthy treat, Balvinder. Absolutely gorgeous pictures too :). Have to try this out.
Kitchen Belleicious
so festive and fun to eat. I bet that flavor is out of this world
Lisa H.
Its pumpkin season… yummy autumn comfort food
Bam's Kitchen
I love cardamon and the addition of goji berries really sets this dish apart from other pumpkin recipes. Very healthy and delicious.
Balvinder
I have not tasted all pumpkin sweets but this halwa with goji berries does taste out of the world.
Vicki Bensinger
Great recipe – so healthy and I know it’s delicious. With just a few ingredients this is a winner I will be sure to save to try.
yummychunklet
Great dish to add to Thanksgiving dinner!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
I really love simple dish like this! Goji beries! My mother in law left tons of them in my house and this sounds like a nice way to use them (besides Chinese herbal tea she told us to drink -bleh… =P). Plus, cardamom is my favorite spice! I can imagine this taste already… wonderful~~~!
Balvinder
How does your MIL got tons of goji berries, its rare to find here in all stores. Yes cardamom is my favorite spice and I love it in most Indian desserts and sweets.
Katerina
Halva is a sweet that is made from the Mediterranean all the way to India. We make halva too with tahini or with semolina. This one with pumpkin is an excellent idea Balvinder! Goji berries are my husband’s latest discovery!
Balvinder
I see tahini halwa in stores where I shop for my gluten free grocery. Have to buy that one day and goji berries are really good, healthy and tasty.
Nava Krishnan
I am loving it Bal. I saw the ingredients and how to make it. I never encountered squash for halwa but am really tempted. Let me see if I can grab squash and try out this recipe. I am not a big fan of sweets yet I can share the portion with my colleagues.
Balvinder
Nava, this halwa is not too sweet, you will love its sweetness.
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
http://vegetarianmamma.com/glutenfree-allergyfriendly-review-enjoylifefoods-chewy-bars/