Pineapple is available at the market almost all year, and most people like this juicy fruit. It can be used in various dishes, one of which is halwa. Try it once and the taste will stay with you. Here is the recipe.

• 2 cups chopped pineapple
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup cornflour
• 2 cups sugar
• Yellow food colouring
• 4 tablespoons ghee
• 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (cashew and pistachio)
• Half a teaspoon of cardamom powder

First blend the pineapple with water, strain it and keep the juice. Mix another cup of water and the cornflour into the juice, stirring well so the cornflour does not form lumps.

Put a pan on the stove and add the sugar and another cup of water. Once the sugar melts and comes to the boil once or twice, add the pineapple juice and cornflour mixture.

After a short time of stirring the mixture will thicken; then add the food colouring and ghee. After a little more stirring the halwa will look clear and come away from the sides of the pan.

Now add another 2 tablespoons of ghee, the chopped nuts and cardamom powder, and mix well again. Stir for a while, take it off the heat and pour it into a ghee-brushed tray mould.

Spread it evenly with a spoon. Then scatter some chopped nuts on top and press them in lightly. Do this as soon as the halwa is poured; otherwise the nuts will fall off and not stick.

When it has cooled completely, cut it into pieces of any size with a knife and your pineapple halwa is ready to serve.

Recipe and photo: Jhumur's Kitchen.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.