Shakarkand / Sweet potato Halwa Recipe

Shakarkand or sweet potato is widely used during fasting/vrat/upwas. During fasting days, there are certain limitations for food consumption. Cereals and pulses and many other ingredients are not consumed on that day. For details please go through the vrat/fasting rules.

My grandmother who fasted at least twice a week, used to make this dish with sweet potatoes. As children, we used to look forward to her fasting as she always cooked special meals. She also used to tell us stories specific to each of her fasts.

This halwa/sheera is made from white sweet potatoes, the one which we get in India. Here in USA we also get orange color sweet potato known as yam. You can make this recipe using any of the variety. But make sure to use little extra sugar when you make halwa with yam; as it is less sweet than white one.

Sweet potato halwa is easy to make and you can make it whenever you crave but you want to eat healthy. It can be served on any occasion or during vrat (fasting day)

This nutritious root veggie is rich in vitamin A. Due to its natural sweetness, this recipe requires very less sugar.

Step by step recipe of Shakarkand Halwa:

1. Thoroughly wash and then boil 3-4 medium sized sweet potatoes. Boil sweet potatoes with skin in the pressure cooker with enough water till it gets soft for about 4-5 whistles on medium heat. It can be cooked in a microwave as well.
   
2. Once it is cool to touch, peel and mash them.
   
3. Heat 2 tbsp. ghee in a heavy bottomed or non-stick pan on medium heat. Once hot, mix in mashed sweet potatoes.
   
    
4. Cook until all the moisture evaporates. Keep stirring.
   
5. Then add ½ cup milk and again cook till all the moisture goes away.
   
6. Then mix in 2-3 tbsp sugar and cook stirring continuously till it leaves the sides of the pan and ghee will ooze out. Adjust the amount of sugar as per your taste. You can even skip adding the sugar at all.
   
7. Lastly add in freshly ground ¼ tsp cardamom powder and 2 tbsp. of chopped nuts of your choice. Mix everything well.
   
    
8. Garnish with some fried cashew nuts and serve hot.
   
    

Below is the printable version of the recipe.

Shakarkand Halwa recipe below:

Sweet potato or Shakarkand halwa Prep time Cook time Total  10 min  25 min  35 min Sweet potato or shakarkandi ka Halwa made with boiled mashed sweet potatoes. AUTHOR: Monali RECIPE TYPE: Indian sweet, Vrat recipe CUISINE: Indian SERVES: 3 INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup=237 ml) 3-4 medium sized sweet potatoes 3 tbsp. sugar, adjust to taste (you may not need to add sugar at all, if sweet potatoes are sweet enough) 2-3 tbsp. ghee or clarified butter ½ cup milk ¼ tsp. green cardamom powder (freshly ground) 2 tbsp. chopped nuts of your choice  DIRECTION Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove all the dirt. Then boil sweet potatoes with skin in the pressure cooker with enough water till it gets soft for about 4-5 whistles on medium heat. It can be cooked in a microwave as well. Once it is cool to touch, peel and mash them. Heat ghee in a heavy bottomed or non-stick pan on medium heat. Once hot mix in mashed sweet potatoes and cook until all the moisture evaporates. Keep stirring. Then add milk and again cook till all the moisture goes away. Then mix in sugar and cook stirring continuously till it leaves the sides of the pan and ghee will ooze out. Lastly add in freshly ground cardamom powder and chopped nuts. Mix. Garnish with some fried cashew nuts and serve hot.  SERVING SUGGESTION Serve it as a dessert or accompaniment with other fasting/vrat dishes.