Tomato Halwa is a lycopene enriched, no artificial sugar added halwa (fudge) made from tomatoes and fruits. Lycopene is an antioxidant which belongs to the carotenoid family of plant nutrients. A lycopene rich diet protects the body from antioxidative stress, prevents heart disease, and may help to prevent many types of cancers. Tomato is one of the most affordable food sources which provides lycopene to our diet.
Here is the recipe for a tomato, strawberry, banana and date halwa (fudge):
Ingredients
| Red but firm tomatoes | 1 kg |
| Strawberries chopped | 250 g |
| Bananas | 2 |
| Dates | 250 g |
| Almond flour | 1/4 cup |
| Ghee/clarified butter | 1/2 cup (You may not be using all) |
Method
- Chop tomatoes, strawberries, banana, and dates into small pieces and keep them separate
- Pour 2 tablespoons of clarified butter (or ghee) in a thick non-stick pan, add the chopped cashews and fry till brown, take them out.
- In the same pan, add another 2 tablespoons of clarified butter/ghee and add the chopped dates. Cook on medium heat until they are soft and mashed
- Then add strawberries and cook for 5-10 minutes (till it becomes soft and mashed) turning them frequently
- Now add the tomatoes, let them cook until they are all mashed.
- Mash the bananas and add the almond flour to make like paste.
- Add this paste to the cooked tomatoes and strawberries and turn frequently adding a couple of table spoons of clarified butter (or ghee) intermittently.
- If you feel you need to make it sweeter, you may add some finely chopped dates or some brown sugar at this stage,
- Add cardamom and nutmeg powder and the fried cashews. Cook for another 5-10 minutes or till the ghee separates and thickens. If you want you can decant this ghee and use for some other cooking.
- Enjoy!
Note: Please research the benefits and precautions for using the various ingredients listed in this recipe to select ones that are suitable for you.
About the Author
Sivagamasundhari Sikamani is a mother of two and home maker with a Masters in Horticulture. She loves gardening and cooking very much, always trying innovative dishes to avoid wasting any produce.
