Potato Halva Recipe

(Alla Aluwa)

After a rich curry meal, serve this sweetmeat with black coffee.

Ingredients : Makes about 18 pieces.

1 1/2 cups

1 X 410 g

125 g

1 cup

2 tablespoons

1 teaspoon

Sugar

Milk

Canned sweetened condensed milk

Ghee or butter

Cooked mashed potato

Finely chopped cashew nuts, optional

Rose water

Ground cardamom, optional

Method :

Put sugar, milk, condensed milk and ghee into a large heavy saucepan (a non-stick pan is excellent for this).
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches soft-ball stage or 116^oC (240^oF) on a candy thermometer.
To test for softball stage, drop a little into a cup of ice-cold water.
If it firms enough to be moulded into a soft ball, it has reached the required temperature.
Remove from heat, add smoothly mashed potato and beat with a rotary beater until all lumps are beaten out.
If using a pan with non-stick lining, pour mixture into a bowl before doing this or the metal beaters will scratch the non-stick surface.
Return to heat and cook to soft ball stage or 116^oC (240^oF) once more.
Remove from heat, stir in nuts, rose water and cardamom and mix well.
Pour into a well-buttered shallow dish or baking tin.
Press lightly with a piece of buttered banana leaf or aluminum foil to smooth and flatten the surface.
Allow to cool and set, then cut into diamond shapes.