01
Ashoka Halwa
Sweets
Asoka Halwa - a Tamil moong dal and wheat flour sweet.
Moong dal and wheat flour cooked with sugar and ghee till glossy, finished with elaichi.
CLICK TO REad
AMMAMMA'S NOTES.
Moong dal
1 cup
Ghee
1/2 cup
Sugar
2 cups
Wheat flour
1/4 cup
Cardamom powder
1/4 spoon
01
In a pan, fry the moong dal slightly, then cook it in a cooker with 1 cup water.
02
Remove and grind the cooked moong dal in a mixie.
03
In a pan, add ghee and fry the wheat flour on low flame, stirring continuously.
04
When a nice aroma comes, add the ground moong dal and stir well.
05
Add the sugar and mix everything, stirring on low flame.
06
Add ghee little by little as you stir; the mixture should not stick to the pan or your hand when touched.
Sakara Pongal
Rice and moong dal cooked soft with jaggery, ghee, elaichi, coconut and raisins.
learn more
Paysam Varieties
Paysam - a sweet, milk-based South Indian dessert, similar to kheer
learn more
TO THIS DAY I HAVE NO IDEA HOW SHE MADE THIS SO WONDERFULLY — ONE OF THOSE THINGS I CHALK UP TO HER LOVE. SHE LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL COOKING, MAKING DISHES LIKE THESE, SO INCREDIBLY PATIENTLY. IT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT TO KEEP STIRRING, SO THATHA ALWAYS HELPED HER. THIS DISH FALLS IN THE CATEGORY OF THE THINGS SHE'D MAKE WHEN SHE LOVED YOU A LITTLE MORE!
YAMINI VENKATESAN
WHAT'S FOR LUNCH, 2026