Badam ka Halwa

INGREDIENTS:

1. Badam or Almond paste - 1 cup
2. Sugar - 3 cups
3. Water - 2.5 cups
4. Ghee - 2 cups
5. Milk - 0.5 cup
6. Saffron - Few Strands
7. Chironji Nuts - 2tbsp

METHOD:

1. Soak badam nuts in 2 cups of hot water for one hour and remove the skin. Now grind the nuts using half cup milk to form a coarse paste.
2. Melt the sugar using half cup water in a thick bottomed saucepan.
3. Now add the badam paste to the sugar mixture and stir continuously on a low flame till the mixture thickens. Keep adding ghee to the mixture while stirring to avoid the mixture from sticking to the pan.
4. Now add saffron mixed in little milk to the mixture.
5. The mixture will turn slightly glossy with a jam like consistency.
6. Remove the saucepan from the flame.
7. Garnish with fried chironji nuts
8. Serve hot or cold