Ingredients

• 250g besan (gram flour)
• 250 ghee (clarified butter)
• 100g milk
• 250g organic brown sugar
• 250g cow ghee
• 2.5g cardamom powder
• 2 pinches of saffron
• 125g finely chopped dry fruits (cashew, almond and any other dry fruit of your choice)

Preparation

1. Grease a square pan/baking tray which has a 1½ to 2-inch rim, with ghee and set aside.
2. In one tbs of warm water, dip the saffron and put it aside.
3. Prepare 1-string consistency sugar syrup (ek tar ki chashni). Take 2 ¼ cups of water in a pan. Pour all the sugar into it and bring to a boil. Then switch to low flame and stir until the syrup reaches the right consistency (thickness). When you check the syrup’s consistency from a spoon between your forefinger and thumb, the syrup should form one string.
4. Combine the besan and melted ghee in a deep bowl and mix well until no lumps remain. You can rub the ingredients between palms to make them blend better and switch to a whisk later.
5. Next, roast besan and ghee together on low flame till it turns golden brown and releases a lightly roasted aroma.
6. Pour the sugar syrup into the besan-ghee mixture slowly and keep stirring on a low flame and let it blend.
7. Now add milk and stir for 2-3 minutes until the mixture stops sticking to the vessel.
8. Add cardamom and saffron-water into the mix and blend it. The main component of Mohanthal is ready.
9. Pour the sweet from the kadhai onto the square pan/baking tray and spread evenly.
10. Now roast the dry fruits with a bit of ghee and then pat it onto the mohanthal to garnish.

Serves approximately 25 pieces

Heath benefits

Besan or gram flour is a good source of folic acid, which assists the growth of WBCs and RBCs in the bone marrow.

Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, which controls blood cholesterol levels; whereas cashews are rich in selenium, zinc, iron, and essential fatty acids which are good for maintaining shiny hair and healthy skin.