Atta Halwa is a classic and rich, soft, and delicious melt-in-mouth Indian dessert prepared using three ingredients (wheat flour or atta, desi ghee, and sugar) in less than 30 minutes. This Indian sweet is prepared during auspicious occasions and festivals like Navratri, Diwali. Wheat halwa is also known as atte ka halwa, karkala cake, or kada prasad.
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What is Kada prasad / Karah prasad / Gurudwara Kadha prashad?
Karah Prasad, considered a sacred food by Sikhs worldwide, is prepared as an offering in Gurudwaras using wheat flour, desi ghee, and sugar. Karah Prasad is then distributed in the form of prashad to all the devotees at the gurdwara. Kada prasad recipe ratio is 1:1:1 - an equal portion of ghee, wheat, and sugar to show the equality between men and women.
During the preparation of this prasad halwa, prayers and hymns (shabads) are recited to fill the prasad with spiritual blessings. Once the kada prasad halwa is ready, it is offered to the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy scripture of Sikhism) as an indication of devotion and gratitude. It is distributed to devotees, which means sharing the blessings.
What is Karkala cake or Wheat halwa?
Karkala is a small town in the Udupi district of Karnataka, and I proudly belong to this town. I grew up eating this gova cake (aate ka halwa or godhumai halwa), but only a few years back, I learned that this sweet is known as Karkala cake. Karkala cake is prepared during festivals, functions, or special occasions in my hometown. Guests at these events would fall in love with this sweet and try replicating it during events in their hometown, and thus, this sweet is lovingly and popularly referred to as Karkala cake.
Since I have started blogging, I have learned a lot apart from cooking. Before writing anything here, I try to get as much information about the recipe as possible. If this sweet is popularly known as Karkala cake in the coastal region of Karnataka. In North India, this halwa dessert is popularly known as the golden temple prasad, Gurudwara ka kada prasad, kada parshad, or atte ka halwa. In English, this is called wheat halwa or Indian pudding dessert or wheat cake.
Ingredients
To make an atta ka halwa or gurudwara style wheat halwa(kad prasad) recipe, you need only three ingredients - homemade desi ghee, wheat flour (atta), and sugar.
Nuts and flavoring like cardamom powder are optional, but adding it will only enhance the flavor of this Indian sweet.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Add ghee to a non-stick pan. To this, add cashews and roast just until it becomes light. It will turn golden brown when you continue to roast it with atta (wheat flour) in the next step. Meanwhile, keep the water for boiling on a medium flame in another pot.
Step 2: Add the atta flour and roast it on a medium-low flame for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring it continuously.
Step 3: This is how the roasted atta looks like after 6 minutes and you get the nutty aroma.
Step 4: Add the hot boiling water and stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes so that no lumps are formed and the water is absorbed completely.
Step 5: Add sugar to the flour mixture and mix until it is completely dissolved.
Step 6: After 3 to 4 minutes of adding sugar this is what halwa looks like. Ghee leaves the side of the pan. Add cardamom powder. Mix and switch off the flame.
Step 7: Serve the Indian halwa dessert and enjoy.
Tips
- To make the healthy version of halwa, you can add 2 to 4 tbsp of ghee only. But you will miss the richness and flavor. The traditional kada prasad or atta halwa recipe ratio is 1:1:1 amount of ghee:sugar:atta or flour.
- Adding nuts is optional. If you like the crunch, add almonds, more of cashews, and raisins.
- To make the best halwa sweet, always use good quality ingredients.
- Do not be in a rush while roasting wheat flour or atta. Roast it on a medium-low flame until it turns golden brown and gives a nutty aroma. Keep stirring.
- Once you add water, stir or use a whisk if you are a beginner to prevent lumps from forming.
- The traditional and authentic version of aate ka halwa sweet is made without milk.
Storage suggestions
Nothing can beat the flavor and the taste of hot and fresh halwa. But you can make this dessert and keep it in an airtight conatiner at room temperature for two days. In refrigerator for seven days. Just before serving, warm it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.
Recipe FAQS
Atta halwa is made with a 1:1:1 ratio of ghee: wheat flour: sugar which is a rich and heavy dessert and is not healthy. Always eat it in moderation.
The popular atta halwa or kada prasad is made using whole wheat flour.
Gurudwara-style kadha prasad or karah parshad is prepared using only 3 ingredients: wheat flour, desi ghee, and sugar.
Kada prashad is a sweet distributed to devotees at Gurudwara. The word gurudwara means the door to guru in English. You cannot return empty-handed whenever you visit a guru. The sweet blessings guru gives to you are symbolized by this sweet kada prasad. So you never say no when this karah parshad is offered to you as it is seen as the means of receiving Guru's blessings.
Desi ghee is the key ingredient in making atta halwa or kada prasad. So do not skip this, as you will miss the richness and flavor.
Once you add the water, stirring it continuously with a whisk or spatula is the key to preventing the lumps from forming. You will also have to be quick.
One serving of halwa contains 227 calories with 2g of protein.
More Indian Halwa Desserts
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Recipe card
Atta Halwa | Kada Prasad | Wheat Halwa
Equipment
- Non-stick pan
Ingredients
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon Ghee
- 1 tablespoon Cashews optional
- ½ cup Wheat flour or Atta
- 1 cup Water , hot boiling
- ½ cup Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder optional
Instructions
- Place water for boiling in a pot on medium flame.
- In a pan on medium flame, melt the ghee. To this, add cashews and saute until light golden.¼ cup + 2 tablespoon Ghee, 1 tablespoon Cashews
- Add wheat flour (atta) and continue to saute on medium to medium-low flame until aromatic. The taste of the dish depends on how well you saute the wheat flour. It took me about 5 to 6 minutes to saute the atta. The duration depends on the intensity of the flame and the thickness of the pan.½ cup Wheat flour
- Once the atta has been sauteed, add hot boiling water little by little and keep stirring so that there are no lumps. Continue to stir for 2 more minutes or until the water is absorbed.1 cup Water
- Now add the sugar and continue to stir for 3 to 5 minutes or until ghee leaves the sides of the pan. Finally, add cardamom powder, mix, and switch off the flame.½ cup Sugar, ¼ teaspoon Cardamom powder
Notes
- To make the healthy version of halwa, you can add 2 to 4 tbsp of ghee only. But you will miss the richness and flavor. The traditional gurudwara kada prasad or atta halwa recipe ratio is 1:1:1 amount of ghee:sugar:atta or flour.
- Adding nuts is optional. If you like the crunch, add almonds, more of cashews, and raisins.
- To make the best halwa sweet, always use good quality ingredients.
- Do not be in a rush while roasting wheat flour or atta. Roast it on a medium-low flame until it turns golden brown and gives a nutty aroma. Keep stirring.
- Once you add water, stir or use a whisk if you are a beginner to prevent lumps from forming.
- The traditional and authentic version of aate ka halwa sweet is made without milk
Nutrition
This Indian sweet on gurdwara style kada prasad or atta halwa (karkala cake) was first published in April 2022. Updates with more information, new pictures, and details.
Harriet Young
This was absolutely delicious- loved it! Definitely add the cashews - they take it to the next level!