Video guide for traditional Kerala Vella Halwa or milk fudge

Preparation time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Cooking time: 2 hours

Servings: 30 pieces 

Ingredients 

300 gms refined flour (white flour) 

900 gms sugar 

1 ¼ litre of boiled milk 

8-10 cardamom

2 tbsp sugar 

200 ml ghee 

100 gms cashew nut slivers 

3 l water (approximately) 

 Method 

Step: 1 

In a bowl knead the white flour well with 250 ml of water to make a soft dough. 

Step: 2 

Add water into the bowl till the soft dough is fully immersed in the water. Cover the bowl and keep it aside for at least an hour. 

 Step: 3 

After one hour, mix the dough nicely with the hand and then strain through a fine mesh sieve or through a muslin cloth to remove the lumps of dough. Discard the residue. Your eliminating the fibrous gluten from the flour.

 Step: 4 

Set aside the liquid batter for a further 3 hours, then decant the clear liquid from the top. Please refer to the video guide.

 Step: 5 

Meantime pound the cardamom and 2 tablespoons of sugar together in a mortar with pestle, and keep aside. 

 Step: 6 

In a pan dissolve 900 grams of sugar in 3 cups of water. To make it dissolve faster, boil the mix. Stir continuously. 

 Step: 7 

Mix the batter, sugar syrup and milk together in a heavy bottom vessel. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously.  

 Step: 8 

As it thickens, add ghee at regular intervals. Make sure to stir continuously. It takes a bit of effort but the result is delicious.

 Step: 9 

When the halwa or fudge starts getting its glossy texture, add cashew nut slivers and the cardamom powder mix. 

 Step: 10 

Cook over a low flame till the ghee starts to release. The cooking process takes approximately 2 hours.

 Step: 11 

Switch off the flame and transfer the fudge or halwa it to a greased plate and spread evenly. Place a few split cashew nuts on top as garnish. 

 Note: While making the halwa, use a high flame at the beginning for a few minutes and then gradually lower the heat as the cooking progresses.

Recipe courtesy: Sobha Varghese is a homemaker based in Mumbai, India. Sobha runs a popular YouTube blog called ‘Sobha's Kitchenette’ that focuses on authentic and traditional Kerala recipes.

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