Sweet Potato Halwa (Shakarkandi ka Halwa)

Here’s one of the not so popular Shakarkandi or Sweet Potato, which I quite like because it is one of those vegetables that can be naturally turned into many sweet dishes. Just like this Sweet Potato Halwa. It is an easy and quick dessert that you can make for any occasion as well. This Shakarkandi ka Halwa recipe is gluten free and vegan (when not using ghee), and is perfect during vrats/fasts, any other festive celebrations or even when you want to have something sweet as well as nutritious.

About Sweet Potato Halwa

As it is, Halwa are that category of Indian desserts that are really a fuss-free way of relishing something sweet anytime of the day. Also, be it religious fasting or any other special occasion, the versatile halwa is a good option as it can be made with a lot of different ingredients. For instance, this one here is the Shakarkandi ka Halwa made with sweet potatoes.

Usually, in the Indian cuisine, sweet potatoes is used in making chaats or are popular during the Hindu fasting days. At home, I too always add boiled sweet potatoes in the Fruit Chaat as it gives a nice sweet taste to the chaat. This easy Sweet Potato Chaat is also a famous preparation served as a popular street food outside schools and colleges in North India.

Other than sweet potatoes, all you need to make this halwa are just the usual ingredients from your kitchen like sugar, ghee and some flavorings. Minimal ingredients, simple recipe yet high on flavors and filling too – the Sweet Potato Halwa is quite a win!

More on Shakarkandi Halwa

This Shakarkandi ka Halwa can be prepared in 2 ways; either by grating the raw sweet potatoes or by boiling them first and then mashing. Personally, I will choose the boiled and mashed version. As it is faster than the grating version.

Since I wanted to make this Sweet Potato Halwa a vegan friendly recipe, I used oil in cooking the halwa. But just as in any other sweet dish, especially Indian, ghee works like a wonder in this dessert recipe too. However, using ghee would also mean a richer dish.

This is quite a simple recipe and apart from stirring the halwa, there is not much effort required in the making. This halwa is another way you can consume this lovely, nutrient-rich root veggie. Have it hot, warm or cold, this is your choice.  

In addition to this Shakarkandi Halwa recipe and the chaat, there are many dishes that are possible with this amazing vegetable. The famous Bengali sweet ‘rangalur puli pithe’ is sweet potato dumplings stuffed with a coconut mixture, fried and soaked in a sweet syrup. It is a special during the Makar Sankranti festival.

How about trying the Sweet Potato Gulab Jamun and the Sweet Potato Cutlet, while I work on many other delectable preparations with sweet potatoes. You can even take the shakarkandi cutlets, jazz them up with your favorite chutneys, toppings and turn into a sweet potato cutlet chaat.

How to make Sweet Potato Halwa

Preparation

1. Boil 2 medium to large sweet potatoes (shakarkandi) first. Drain all the water. When they become warm, peel and mash them with a potato masher.

You can cook sweet potatoes in a pressure cooker, in a pan or in the Instant Pot adding water as required. Cook them till they are tender and softened.

2. Heat 7 to 8 tablespoons oil (any neutral oil) or ghee in a heavy wok (kadai) or pan. First, fry 10 to 12 cashews till golden. Remove on a plate and set aside.

You could also add your preferred nuts instead of cashews.

Make Sweet Potato Halwa

3. In the same oil, add the mashed sweet potatoes. Stir well and sauté for 3 to 4 mins on medium-low to medium heat.

4. Add 4 tablespoons sugar or as required (depends on the sweetness of the sweet potatoes). Mix well and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes on medium-low to medium heat stirring often.

5. After 4 to 5 minutes, add ½ teaspoon cardamom powder (or about 3 to 4 green cardamoms powdered in a mortar-pestle). Stir to mix.

6. Add 12 to 15 strands of saffron and stir. Adding saffron strands are optional.

7. Keep stirring and cooking the halwa till the oil or ghee starts to leave the sides of the pan. This will take approximately 10 to 12 minutes.

The mixture would sort of come together and clump. The color of the halwa will also change.

Lastly, add the fried cashews and stir to mix. The texture of the halwa would resemble sooji (semolina) halwa, but the taste will be different.

8. Serve Sweet Potato Halwa hot, warm or cold. Keep any leftovers in the fridge. This halwa keeps well for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator.

This Sweet Potato Halwa recipe post from the blog archives first published in August 2013 has been republished and updated on 2 August 2022.