A lesser known winter delicacy – the Jouzi Halwa than other traditional halwas, but it is a delicacy that will leave you enthralled.
WHAT IS JOUZI HALWA?
You may have eaten aatey (wheat flour) ka halwa, but how about one that is made from its sprout? The main protagonist of the Jouzi Halwa is the samnak or sprouted wheat. Sprouted wheat is cooked with milk on simmer. Next, khoya is added, stirring continuously to get the desired consistency – just like your béchamel sauce. Next in is sugar, saffron and the spices – mace, cardamom and nutmeg. A drizzle of kewra water is followed by a generous amount of desi ghee, to bind the entire mixture together. The mixture is then stirred and roasted for a long time – the longer it is roasted, the more colour it has. The halwa is packed with nutrients and has a slight nutty taste to it. The desi ghee and spices makes it a rich halwa, which can be best devoured with a puri or some malai.
WHERE DO I GET IT?
Though there are some places in the city that claim to make this halwa throughout the year, there are only a few that serve the halwa with the authentic ingredients. This is also because the wheat grain is germinated during the winter, under the dew-y night sky.
One such place where you can find this rich, delectable sweet is a small, tiny sweet shop in Chowk by the name of Rahmat Ali, just a little ahead of Tunday Kababi’s famous shop.
Location: Rahmat Ali Sweets Corner, Near Masjid Tehseen Ai Khan, Phool Wali Gali, Chowk, Lucknow
Time: Preferably before 12.30 p.m.
Price: Rs. 800 / kg
