Mung dal halwa with ghee and walnuts

Mung dal halwa with ghee and walnuts

Desserts

A rich and fragrant Bengali dessert: roasted mung dal, blended and then cooked with ghee, milk, and sugar, topped with crunchy walnuts and grapes.

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This halwa is a traditional festive dessert from Bengal. Made with roasted mung dal, ghee, and sugar, it has a rich and flavorful taste that is enjoyed with bread or as individual squares.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time20 min
  • Cook time50 min
  • Resting20 min
  • Total1 hr 30 min
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodnibbled
  • Estimated cost$8.86 $1.48 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 7, 2026.
  • Vegetarian
  • Gluten-free

Ingredients

6 people
  • $0.50
  • $7.05
  • $0.23
  • $0.66
  • $0.12
  • $0.30

Prices from US supermarkets for 4 of 6 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Thoroughly wash and drain the mung dal. Then, dry-fry it in a pan over medium heat until it is lightly browned and fragrant, but not burnt.
  2. Let the grilled lentils cool, then cook them in enough water. Once they are tender, remove them from the heat, let them cool, and then blend them into a smooth puree.
  3. Heat the ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan and add the cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaf. Add the dal puree and stir constantly for 5-7 minutes, making sure nothing sticks to the bottom.
  4. Once the dal no longer smells raw, add the milk and sugar. Stir frequently over medium heat. When the mixture thickens, add the khoya or powdered milk, walnuts, and grapes.
  5. Continue to stir until the dough separates from the sides and the ghee rises to the surface. Pour into a greased dish, smooth, and cut into squares, or serve hot. ≈ 8 min

The bill

Mung dal halwa with ghee and walnuts

  • 500 ml of milk$0.50
  • 100 g of ghee$7.05
  • 200 grams of sugar$0.23
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts (walnut, pistachio, or almond)$0.66
  • 1 tablespoon of grape juice$0.12
  • 2 tablespoons of khoya or powdered milk (optional)$0.30

Total$8.86

that's $1.48 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 200 g of mung beans
  • 500 ml of milk
  • 100 g of ghee
  • 200 grams of sugar
  • 3 to 4 cardamom pods
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon
  • One bay leaf
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts (walnut, pistachio, or almond)
  • 1 tablespoon of grape juice
  • 2 tablespoons of khoya or powdered milk (optional)

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