STRAWBERRY HALWA

The story behind the making of this Strawberry Halwa goes as this..... we had a visiting guest a couple of weeks back who got us a big bag full of fruits completely forgetting that we are a family of three or say four. My men are not that much of a fruit lover. To be precise, they love few specific kinds of fruits like mango, grapes, apple, pear. Our guest who is like a brother and his darling wife got us a box full of strawberries. For two days the box rested in the refrigerator and the Uncle Podger in me totally forgot about it. 

I usually offer any fruit brought home to my God Family before consuming it. On the third day when I took out the box, I found that few of the strawberries already has spoiled. Strawberries even after refrigerating spoil quickly. I was sad because I do not like wastage and strawberries are a quite an expensive thing. I was wondering what can I do quickly with the rest of them.

The senior of my men still loves to have strawberry with cream but the junior will not have a bite of anything sour. I do have them at times with a bowl of yogurt. To be frank, our taste buds are not adapted to having strawberry as a fruit. It is not commonly found at the place of our origin. With the rest of the strawberries I wished to prepare something that every member in the family can enjoy, also close family friends were to come that day. The idea of Strawberry Halwa popped up because I have seen a couple of such recipes with it and other fruits too. I landed up at this no fancy, simple, homemade Strawberry Halwa. Let us prepare this Strawberry Halwa..... a sweet made of strawberry paste, sugar and semolina together.

INGREDIENTS :

Semolina : 50 gm
Strawberry : 10-12
Sugar : 1 small tea cup
Green Cardamom : 2-3
Bayleaf : 1
Oil : 4tbsp [Alternatively you can use Ghee]
Your choice of roasted dry fruits to garnish [Optional]

METHOD :

Wash and chop the strawberries, break and mash roughly with your right palm. Keep aside.

Heat the oil in a wok. Slightly tear open the green cardamoms and add to the wok along with the bayleaf.

Add the semolina, keep on stirring for 5-8 minutes. When you will see the semolina turning light brown and nicely roasted, transfer it to a bowl.

Clean the wok and put on the gas oven. Add the strawberry paste and stir for a minute. Add the sugar and 2 big coffee mugs of water. Stir well.

When the mixture comes to a boil, add the roasted semolina. Fold in well.

Let it cook for 3-4 minutes at low heat. If required add a little more of water. Mix well and stir cook for 3-4 minutes.

Transfer the halwa to a serving bowl. Garnish with your choice of roasted & chopped dry fruits.