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