Chocolate Semolina Halwa with Dairy Milk Chunks

Semolina halwa is a cult classic made on the stovetop, passed down by generations as a go-to sweet treat with its robust but delicate flavors, which is timing-sensitive. Like all semolina-centric halwas, roasting the semolina isn't just about the color, it’s about releasing the scent accentuated by the ghee. Overdo it and you have a burnt, unsalvageable mass that will ruin the entire dessert. If done right, your halwa with be smooth and not clumpy with the richness of the chocolate and cocoa powder used in it.

This version pushes the traditional halwa with a richer cocoa flavor and chopped nuts, not just in sweetness but also in the way it feels on your tongue. The sugar-milk blend must go into the roasted semolina pan boiling, not warm. Cocoa doesn’t dissolve that easily, it needs to be thoroughly whisked to blend into the halwa. In the end, to keep the chocolate bits chunky, add the Dairy Milk chunks right before serving for them to hold their shape, soften slightly, and accentuate the halwa’s ghee-rich creaminess.

Semolina halwa with almonds and Dairy Milk

Ingredients:

For the sheera:

• 1 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup ghee
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup Cadbury cocoa powder
• 4 tbsp walnuts or almonds, chopped

For the garnish:

• Almonds or walnuts, chopped
• Dairy Milk chunks, optional

Instructions:

1. Take a nonstick pan and heat the ghee until melted, then quickly add the semolina (sooji). Roast it on a low flame, keep stirring, to avoid burning, until fragrant.
2. As the ghee melts, in a pot or kadai, add the milk, water, sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir and bring this to a boil.
3. Add the boiling liquid to the pan with the roasted semolina, slowly, while stirring continuously to avoid any lumps from forming.
4. Keep cooking, for the halwa to form. It will start to thicken as you keep cooking.
5. Once you are satisfied with the thickness of the halwa, add the chopped nuts and a little ghee, and turn off the heat. Stir and take off the stove.
6. While serving, add more chopped nuts on top and Cadbury Dairy Milk chunks.