Anjeer Halwa or Dry Fruit Halwa is a popular Indian Dessert. This 5 ingredient Fig Walnut halwa laced with cardamom, is my modern take on the traditional fig dessert. I have included both Instant Pot and stovetop recipes for this refined sugar-free, must-try dessert.
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Picture yourself sitting in front of a fireplace with a glass of wine and a bowl of hot, rich, gooey halwa. This buttery and dense pudding, which has the natural sweetness and texture of fig coupled with the buttery bite of wholesome walnuts, makes for a luxurious treat. Take it to the next level with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
This EASY fig walnut halwa is a yummy sugar-free Diwali sweet to share with family and friends. You can use dark figs, golden figs, or a combination of both. This impressive rich & gooey halwa comes together in no time! Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or serve it in fancy phyllo cups, this recipe is sure to impress your family & friends.
Fig fan like me? You’ve got to try my fresh Fig Jam recipe! Made with fresh figs, sugar, and lemon juice, it’s a fantastic way to savor the taste of figs all year long.
Ingredients
- Dried Figs - Also known as Anjeer in India, figs come in many varieties. I love the dark variety and I also prefer buying the soft moist Turkish figs or California mission figs. The ones sold in most Indian grocery stores in a circular ring are delicious but tend to be dry. So If you use those make sure to add an extra ½ cup of water when cooking.
- Walnuts - Also known as Akhrot in India, walnuts add a rich, buttery flavor and nutty bite to the halwa.
- Ghee - Popular in Indian cuisine, ghee is what makes the desserts truly heavenly. With its nutty aroma, ghee adds rich texture and aromas to this halwa.
- Cardamom - Known as Elaichi, cardamom seeds are ground and added to Indian desserts for a sweet heavenly aroma.
- Pistachios - You can use any nuts in this recipe. I love green pistachios as they add nice color contrast to desserts.
How to Make Fig Halwa
- De-stem and chop figs.
- Coarsely chop the walnuts.
- Combine the figs and water in the Instant Pot.
- Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook or Manual setting and set the cooking time for 5 minutes at high pressure (Photos 1 - 4)
- Perform a quick release by moving the Pressure Release to Venting.
- Open the pot and coarsely mash the figs with a potato masher or immersion blender.
- Add the walnuts, pistachios, ghee, and cardamom and stir together.
- Press the Cancel button to reset the cooking program, then select the low Sauté setting and cook the halwa, stirring frequently, until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency, about 5 to 10 minutes (Photos 5 - 8)
Serving
- Spoon the fig walnut halwa into bowls and serve
- Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream
- Spoon the halwa over a bed of Cool Whip in crispy phyllo cups
- Serve fig halwa in phyllo cups, and top it with a tiny dollop of whipped cream
Tips
- Make sure the figs are soft and fresh. Older figs tend to get dry and you may need to add more water
- You can quick release after the pressure cooking cycle completes or allow natural pressure release. This recipe is very forgiving
- Add a mix of light and dark figs
- Use homemade ghee for authentic flavor and aromas
- To make this recipe on the stovetop, add 2 cups of water to the chopped figs in a heavy-bottomed pot. Cook on medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes or until most of the water is evaporated and the figs are soft and mushy. Then, mash the figs, add the remaining ingredients and cook on low-medium for 5 to 10 minutes
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Recipe
Fig Walnut Halwa
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried figs stemmed and coarsely chopped (California black mission or turkish figs recommended)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup walnuts finely chopped
- ½ cup shelled pistachios finely chopped
- ⅓ cup ghee
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Instructions
- Combine the figs and water in the Instant Pot.
- Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook
- or Manual setting and set the cooking time for 5 minutes at high pressure.
- Perform a quick release by moving the Pressure Release to Venting. Open the pot and coarsely mash the figs with a potato masher or wooden spatula. Add the walnuts, pistachios, ghee, and cardamom and stir together. Press the Cancel button to reset the cooking program, then select the low Sauté setting and cook the halwa, stirring frequently, until it thickens to a pudding-like consistency, about 10 minutes. Press the Cancel button to turn off the Instant Pot.
- Spoon the halwa into bowls and serve.
Notes
- Make sure the figs are not too old or dry. Add more water if they look too dry
- You can quick release after the pressure cooking cycle completes or allow natural pressure release. This recipe is very forgiving
- Add a mix of light and dark figs
- Use homemade ghee for authentic flavor and aromas
- Add chopped figs and 2 cups of water to a heavy-bottomed pot
- Cook partially covered on medium heat for 20 to 25 mins or until most of the water is evaporated and figs and super soft and mushy.
- Mash the figs and then add the remaining ingredients and cook on low-medium for 5 to 10 mins
Veenas says
Walnuts Halwa with Ice Cream. Nice Try. So Yummy. I will Definitely try this at Home. Thank You.
Jig P. says
This turned out great. Crunchy, chewy, semi-sweet, and delicious. Great option for those who want a low sugar dessert option or healthier option for those with diabetes etc. I served them in phyllo cups and a little whip cream on top for Diwali dinner and everyone loved it. Recipe was super easy to follow. I added a few dates and cashews as well. Thank you
Sofya says
Hi Archana, if all of the halwa is not eaten in one sitting, should the leftovers be refrigerated?
Archana says
Yes! It also freezes well 🙂
Madhavi Shah says
Hi Archana,
What else can I use instead of walnuts and Pistachios? My son is allergic to them. Can I add almonds?
Also, can I make it a day ahead and warm and serve the next day?
Thanks,
Madhavi
Archana says
Yes you can use almonds instead. And yes it stays good in the fridge for 2 weeks.
Rashmi says
Hi Archana,
Where do we find the turkish and California figs? Which Store in US?
Thank you
Archana says
Any us grocery stores - Whole foods, Trader joes, Wegmens, Shop rite!
Aditi says
The best dessert
Was a hit
Avanti Varun says
Awesome dessert ..made in few times and everyone loved it...making it tomorrow again for friends...thank you for quick easy and delicious recipes
Archana Mundhe says
Thank you so much! I’m thrilled to hear it’s been such a hit. Hope your friends love it too!
Ishita says
Looks delicious....Can you use milk instead of water?
Archana says
yes! Milk proteins may separate while pressure cooking
Neeti says
Can this be made with fresh figs?
Archana says
Although I have not tried it, you certainly can use fresh figs. Traditionally dried figs are used for this recipe.
Moni says
Is it ok to use salted pistachios or salted butter?
Archana says
yes!
Ruchika says
Hi ! Can I store this halwa for 2-3 days at room temperature?
Archana Mundhe says
Depends on how hot the room is. It should be good at about 70 degree F.