This delicious nutty Pistachio Halwa is made with semolina, milk, sugar and crushed pistachios. It is an easy to make Indian dessert, perfect for a quick treat or as a delightful Diwali or Eid mithai.
I love semolina halwa, known as Sooji no Siro in Gujarati households. It is so comforting yet light. This Pistachio Halwa is basically the same recipe but with the addition of vibrant pistachio nuts.
Pistachio nuts add a sweet, nutty and slightly woody taste to recipes and are common in Indian cuisine. They go wonderfully with chocolate, especially in this Chocolate Pistachio Barfi.
For a similar treat, try this Turkish Semolina Halva (Irmik Helvasi) made with butter and pine nuts.
Ingredients and notes
- Semolina - you need the coarse variety suji/sooji for this recipe.
- Pistachio nuts - use whole or chopped pistachios. Do not use salted pistachios but plain roasted is okay to use.
- Cardamom powder - always added to Indian desserts, cardamom powder adds flavour.
- Ghee - I use my homemade desi ghee but you can use a flavourless oil such as sunflower oil
- Milk - for best results use whole milk, aka full fat milk but you can absolutely make it using skimmed milk too. You will be adding ghee anyway which adds fat.
- Sugar - white granulated sugar is best.
Storage
Store leftover pistachio halwa in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
I recommend serving immediately for the best texture. You can reheat halwa if you wish or serve at room temperature.
To reheat, warm in the microwave or in a pan with a splash of milk to loosen it.
Halwa can also be frozen for 1 month in a freezer safe container. Defrost in the microwave or at room temperature.
Other Indian Dessert Recipes
Instant Kalakand (2 ingredients)
Pista Halwa
Ingredients
- ½ cup pistachio nuts ground
- 1 cup semolina
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup ghee
- 3 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
Instructions
- Lightly roast the pistachio (if using raw) and grind coarsely in a spice grinder.
- Heat the milk in a heavy bottomed pan and set aside.
- In a heavy bottom kadai, heat the ghee and add the semolina. Roast on a low heat until you notice a roasting aroma. You need to continuously stir to prevent burning as this can make the halwa taste bitter. This step can take up to 10 minutes. The semolina should only turn golden, not brown in colour.
- Now add the milk and mix well, then tip in the sugar and pistachios and allow the mixture to cook.
- As it starts to thicken and become 1 mass, take off the heat.
- Spread the mixture evenly in a greased tray and allow it to cool slightly. You can then cut into diamond or squares. Optionally, serve loose halwa whilst warm in a bowl.
- You can sprinkle over more pistachio slivers.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Share on Facebook Pin This RecipeNote – This recipe was first published in June 2010. This post has since been updated with helpful content and new images. The recipe remains the same.
Umm Mymoonah says
lovely halwa and lovely note, nice presentation.
divya says
Fathers day wishes to your dad and hubby..the sweet looks very nice and loved the recipe..thanks for sharing..
Swathi says
Nice pistachio halwa. Nice post for dads and best men in your life.
lata raja says
Pistachio is my favourite nut. And both the write ups are so lovely.
Nithu Bala says
Fathers day wishes to your dad and hubby..the sweet looks very nice and loved the recipe..thanks for sharing..
Cool Lassi(e) says
Lovely poetry...anytime you post these kinda poetry, i get emotional. Lovely post and lovely halwa.
kitchen queen says
what a warm and heart felt tribute to fatherhood.no one can forget what all our father showered us in our upbringing.we owe our lifelong gratitude to him.Happy fathers day to one and all. the halwa looks tempting and inviting.
Unknown says
halwa looks delicious...
Uma says
Happy Father's Day!
nice post Jagruti! halwa using pistachios is equally good 🙂
lissie says
pistachio halwa looks so yummy! liked the idea of adding pandan essence...I used munch on these semolina halwas in Singapore 🙂
Simplyfood says
What a beautiful tribute for fathers day.The halwa looks delicious and I love the nutty version too.
Jeyashris Kitchen says
nice stack of halwas.rich and delicous
Angie's Recipes says
A very healthy and nutty treat!
Nandinis food says
Pistachio halwa is very lovely! Happy Father's Day!
Indian Khana says
Looks delicious...love the halwa...