Name: Kerala Black Halwa
Prep time: 50 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 500 g Onakkalari or Pachari; 2 nos Coconut; 1 kg Jaggery (Sharkkara); 500 g Ghee; 6 nos Cardamom (powdered, Elakka); 50 g Cashew nuts; 1 tsp Vanilla Essence (optional)

Kerala Black Halwa

Kerala Black Halwa is an amazing sweet dish traditionally prepared in an ‘uruli’ from God’s Own Country. Kerala Black Halwa is tempting and you can never say enough with one bite. Kerala Black Hala is unique and special with a condensed mixture of rice flour, jaggery and coconut milk. The dish requires constant stirring in moderate flame and you can easily prepare the delicious sweet at home. You can explore a well detailed Kerala Black Halwa dish here.

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Prep Time 50

Total Time 50

Cuisine Kerala

Servings people

Ingredients

500 g Onakkalari or Pachari
2 nos Coconut
1 kg Jaggery Sharkkara
500 g Ghee
6 nos Cardamom powdered, Elakka
50 g Cashew nuts
1 tsp Vanilla Essence optional

Instructions

For preparing Kerala Black Halwa, soak well the raw rice or pachari in water.
Grind it into a fine powder.
Extract first, second and third milk from the grated coconuts.
:- The thick coconut milk should be 1 glass, while you can extract as much as you can from the rest to get second and third milk so as to get 9 glasses. In short, you should have 10 glasses of coconut milk of which the thick milk comes to 1 glass and the rest should come to 9 glasses.
Place jaggery in a vessel kept on flame and dissolve it in very little water and strain it to get rid of the sediments.
Place a large vessel preferably a Urali on fire.
Add 9 glasses (combined) of second and third coconut milk, clear jaggery solution and the rice powder.
Mix well and see to it that no lumps are formed.
Stir continuously.
When it starts to thicken, pour ghee and thick or first coconut milk alternately while stirring continuously.
When it really thickens, which you can test by taking a little of it in your hands and if it doesn't get sticky, then add cashews, powdered cardamoms and vanilla essence.
Mix well.
Grease a flat plate with ghee.
Pour the above hot mixture into the greased plate.
Using a spoon coated with sufficient ghee (in order to give a glazy look to the halwa), spread the mixture well in the plate.
Allow it to cool.
Cut Kerala Black Halwa into desired shapes.

Notes

Different Varieties of Halwa in Kerala

Kerala is renowned for its diverse range of halwas, each offering a unique taste and texture that reflects the local ingredients and traditional preparation methods. Below are some popular varieties of halwa found in Kerala:

Carrot Halwa: A vibrant and flavorful dessert made with grated carrots, milk, ghee, and sugar. The carrots are slow-cooked until soft, releasing their natural sweetness and combined with cardamom to give it a fragrant touch.
Banana Halwa: Made from ripe bananas, this halwa is a Kerala favorite. It’s dense, sweet, and often enriched with coconut oil and ghee, creating a melt-in-the-mouth treat that’s rich in flavor.
Arrowroot Halwa: This gluten-free halwa is made from arrowroot flour, jaggery, and ghee. It has a unique, jelly-like texture and a subtle sweetness, making it a light and delightful dessert.
Red Halwa: Also called 'Kozhikodan Halwa,' this variety is made from refined flour, ghee, and sugar. Its vibrant red color and chewy texture make it a popular choice in Kerala’s sweet shops
Coconut Halwa: A tropical delight made from grated coconut, jaggery, and ghee. This halwa has a distinct coconut flavor and is a popular sweet treat in Kerala households, particularly during festive occasions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes Kerala Black Halwa different from other halwa varieties?
Kerala Black Halwa is unique due to its preparation with coconut milk and jaggery, giving it a rich and caramelized flavor. It also has a denser, chewier texture compared to other varieties like wheat halwa or carrot halwa.
How long does it take to prepare Kerala Black Halwa?
It takes around 50 minutes to prepare Kerala Black Halwa, including the time for soaking the rice, extracting coconut milk, and stirring the mixture to the right consistency.
Can I use store-bought rice flour to make Kerala Black Halwa?
While traditional recipes call for freshly ground raw rice, you can use store-bought rice flour as a convenient substitute. However, the taste and texture may vary slightly from the authentic version.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Response (3)

P

Pearl May 15, 2008

Gr8

A

Anju Rajesh April 7, 2009

wow.. it was really good ,thanku for the recipe

V

Vinayak Varma October 19, 2024

★★★★★

Kerala Black Halwa is a popular sweet in Traditional Kerala recipes. Learn how to make it with tips from this page. Explore more authentic desserts and other Kerala food recipes at this Recipes from Kerala collection.

4.09 from 23 votes (22 ratings without comment)

Kerala Black Halwa