Sooji Halwa with Cardamom and Saffron Infusion

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A rich and fragrant semolina dessert cooked with ghee, sugar, and infused with cardamom and saffron strands for a traditional North Indian sweet. This Indian-inspired recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, layers sooji (semolina), ghee, sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a small bowl, soak 10 saffron strands in 1 tbsp warm milk and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Bring 2 cups water and 1/2 cup milk to a boil in a saucepan. Add 1 cup sugar and 5 crushed green cardamom pods. Stir until sugar dissolves completely. Keep warm.
  3. Step 3: Heat 1/2 cup ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat until melted and hot.
  4. Step 4: Add 3/4 cup sooji (semolina) to the ghee and roast, stirring continuously for 8-10 minutes until the mixture turns golden brown and emits a nutty aroma.
  5. Step 5: Slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the roasted sooji while stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
  6. Step 6: Add the saffron-infused milk along with 2 tbsp chopped cashew nuts and 2 tbsp raisins.
  7. Step 7: Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes until the halwa thickens and starts to pull away from the sides of the pan.
  8. Step 8: Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving warm or at room temperature.

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