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    Home » Desserts

    Fig Walnut Halwa

    Published: Oct 20, 2020 · Modified: Dec 23, 2022 by Archana · This post may contain affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 15 Comments

    2693 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    Fig & Walnut halwa served in a silver bowl
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Fig Halwa
    • Serving
    • Tips
    • More Easy Dessert Recipes
    • Recipe

    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!

    Fig halwa served in 2 bowls with vanilla ice cream

    This EASY & HEALTHY 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 halwa served in phyllo cups with whip cream

    Ingredients

    1. Dried Figs - Also known as Anjeer in India, figs come in many varieties. They are a good source of fiber, calcium, iron, and potassium. 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.
    2. Walnuts - Also known as Akhrot, walnuts are a nutrition powerhouse packed with healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals! Rich in antioxidants, walnuts are a super plant source of omega 3's. They promote a healthy gut and are good brain food. This recipe packs a whole cup full of these superfoods in a delicious dessert form.
    3. 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.
    4. Cardamom - Known as Elaichi, cardamom seeds are ground and added to Indian desserts for a sweet heavenly aroma.
    5. Pistachios - You can use any nuts in this recipe. I love green pistachios as they add nice color contrast to desserts.
    Fig & walnut halwa served in silver bowls

    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)

    steps 1 to 4 on how to prep

    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)

    steps 5 to 8 showing how to make fig & walnut halwa

    Serving

    1. Spoon the fig walnut halwa into bowls and serve
    2. Serve warm topped with vanilla ice cream
    3. Spoon the halwa over a bed of cool whip in crispy phyllo cups
    4. Serve fig halwa in phyllo cups, top it with a tiny dollop of whip cream
    Halwa served with vanilla ice 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 mins or until most of the water is evaporated and the figs are soft and mushy. Then, mash the figs and add the remaining ingredients and cook on low-medium for 5 to 10 mins

    More Easy Dessert Recipes

    • Badam Barfi
    • Instant Pot Kheer
    • Gajar Halwa
    • Raspberry Trifle
    • Mango Shrikhand

    Recipe

    Tried this recipe? We love your feedback.Please click on the stars in the recipe card below
    Fig & walnut halwa served in silver bowls
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    4.73 from 18 votes

    Fig Walnut Halwa

    Buttery and dense pudding, with natural sweetness and texture of fig coupled with the buttery bite of wholesome walnuts
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 347kcal
    Author: Archana Mundhe

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
    • Immersion Blender

    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.

    Video

    Notes

    Tips:
    • 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
    Stove Top Recipe:
    • 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

    Nutrition

    Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 530mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 29IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @ministry_of_curry or tag #ministryofcurry

    Author: Archana

    Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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    1. Veenas says

      October 21, 2020 at 8:09 am

      Walnuts Halwa with Ice Cream. Nice Try. So Yummy. I will Definitely try this at Home. Thank You.5 stars

      Reply
    2. Jig P. says

      November 12, 2020 at 9:24 pm

      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 you5 stars

      Reply
    3. Sofya says

      November 13, 2020 at 4:30 pm

      Hi Archana, if all of the halwa is not eaten in one sitting, should the leftovers be refrigerated?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        November 13, 2020 at 4:46 pm

        Yes! It also freezes well 🙂

        Reply
      • Madhavi Shah says

        November 12, 2021 at 11:12 am

        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

        Reply
        • Archana says

          November 14, 2021 at 11:18 pm

          Yes you can use almonds instead. And yes it stays good in the fridge for 2 weeks.

          Reply
    4. Rashmi says

      December 10, 2020 at 11:21 pm

      Hi Archana,
      Where do we find the turkish and California figs? Which Store in US?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Archana says

        December 13, 2020 at 10:05 pm

        Any us grocery stores - Whole foods, Trader joes, Wegmens, Shop rite!

        Reply
    5. Aditi says

      January 01, 2021 at 5:16 pm

      The best dessert
      Was a hit

      Reply
    6. Ishita says

      May 10, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      Looks delicious....Can you use milk instead of water?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        May 10, 2021 at 10:21 pm

        yes! Milk proteins may separate while pressure cooking

        Reply
    7. Neeti says

      September 03, 2022 at 8:43 am

      Can this be made with fresh figs?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        September 05, 2022 at 10:00 am

        Although I have not tried it, you certainly can use fresh figs. Traditionally dried figs are used for this recipe.

        Reply
    8. Moni says

      December 25, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      Is it ok to use salted pistachios or salted butter?

      Reply
      • Archana says

        January 02, 2023 at 1:29 pm

        yes!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Archana: a former software engineer, now a full-time blogger. I am a mother of two boys who share my love for food and cooking. Words I love to hear are, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” The same words I say to my mom every time we speak. I live in the greater New York City Area with my husband and sons.

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