This is a childhood favorite for every Indian child. It’s a pudding I guess but with more structure. The mango is completely optional, add bananas or raisins or pineapple or almonds to the halwa if you wish. it’s traditionally made with cashews and raisins. The cardamom is essential, the saffron is delicious but not essential.

Roast one cup of rava (coarse semolina) in a quarter cup of butter or ghee. The rava will become pale brown and nutty and burns very fast. Roast the cashews with the rava towards the end. Maybe a quarter cup or so of cashews.

Add 2 cups of milk and 1 cup of water with 1 tbsp of ground cardamon and a pinch of saffron. Add about 10oz of mango (I had a bag of frozen mangos) and cover and steam for 10 minutes. Stir every few minutes to prevent sticking. Then add 3/4 cup of sugar. Stir, turn off heat and cover for 5 minutes. That’s it ! Serve with coffee or tea.