Sweet Potato Halwa | Shakarkhand Halwa Recipe

I like sweet potato and to eat it just plain boiled, but for DH he likes sweet potato halwa, I came to know there is also halwa made of shakarkhand/sarkaraivalli kizhangu from him only.  But I always make him eat boiled sweet potato and for a change I thought of making halwa for the year’s last day to end the year with a sweet note.  This halwa is one of the easy halwa to prepare and doesn’t take much effort, sweet potato or sharkarkand halwa is famous during fasting. 

This is one of the healthy halwa to eat as sugar and ghee is minimal use, also I used dates to further reduce sugar  and sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, beta carotene (a vitamin A equivalent nutrient), vitamin C, and vitamin B_6.  Make sure to sauté/fry the mashed potatoes it gives good texture and flavour, try this halwa this Makar Sankranthi/Pongal for a change.


Ingredients: [Serves 4-5]
Sweet Potato  - 400gms
Milk – 1 Cup
Sugar – 4 tbsp [ or to taste, depends sweetness of sweet potato]
Ghee – 3-4 tbsp
Chopped Nuts – 3 tbsp [I used almonds, cashews and pista]
Chopped Dates – 3 tbsp [optional]

Method:
1. Wash, boil sweet potatoes for 2 whistles, allow the cooker to release pressure. You can also cook sweet potatoes in microwave for 10-12 minutes or until tender with little water. When cool, peel and mash sweet potatoes well.

2. Heat ghee in a heavy bottom or non-stick pan/wok. Fry mashed sweet potatoes, stirring frequently, until ghee begins to separate. Halwa taste better if fried well.

3. Meanwhile in a another pan boil milk and let it simmer until it’s required to use.
4. Add sugar to sweet potatoes and cook stirring continuously for 2-3 minutes. Now add milk and mix well and cook in medium flame until milk absorbs and halwa starts to leave side of pan. 

5. Add dry fruits, dates and mix well to combine everything and cook for 2 more minutes.  Off flame and let the halwa stand for 5 minutes.

Serve hot/warm and enjoy the delicious shakarkand halwa. 

Note:
1. Dates add nice flavour and more sweetness to halwa, try adding it and reduce sugar.
2. Sugar quantity depends on sweetness of potato, you can check the sweetness and add more sugar if required.
3. You can add 1/2 tsp cardamom powder in step 5, but then it’s not really needed.  The halwa taste good with out it.
Have a nice day ~~