Beet Halwa With Pistachios

Name: Beet Halwa
Yield: 8 Servings
Ingredients: ½ cup raw pistachios; 1 2" cinnamon stick; 1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. green cardamom pods; 2 tsp. black peppercorns; 2 tsp. whole cloves; 5 medium red beets (about 2 lb.), trimmed, scrubbed; 4 cups whole milk; 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter; ½ cup (packed) light brown sugar; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; A spice mill or mortar and pestle

By Preeti Mistry

March 16, 2021

Beet Halwa With Pistachios recipe from Preeti Mistry

Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Frances Boswell, prop styling by Sophie Strangio

“In a lot of Indian sweets, the base technique is cooking something down in lots of milk,” chef Preeti Mistry says. “I don’t make a lot of desserts, and what I love about this one is that it’s really easy for non-bakers to make.” This vibrantly hued halwa consists of grated beets cooked down in the milk, giving the beets a surprising richness. Fold in pistachios for texture and crunch, and serve this warm or chilled. If warm, you can scoop ice cream on top. If chilling, halwa can be set in a 9x9" baking pan if you don’t have ramekins.

The spices in this recipe are the same ratio Mistry uses in their masala chai, so reserve any extra for use in tea.

Find more of chef Preeti Mistry’s Holi party recipes here.

Recipe notes

Pumpkin Flan de Queso

This seasonal take on a Puerto Rican favorite adds pumpkin purée and a touch of warm spice for an autumnal flair.

Camélia’s Sweet Potato Gratin

With salty-sweet miso butter, chives, and savory flakes of nori, this cheesy sweet potato gratin recipe bears little resemblance to traditional versions.

Baked Butter Paneer

I should address the awkward truth that I don’t use butter here but cream instead. You could, if you’re a stickler for tradition (and not a heretic like me), add a big slab of butter to the finished curry.

Candied Purple Sweet Potatoes

Slowly roasting purple sweet potatoes in a sticky-sweet mixture of brown sugar and spices gives them a glossy sheen that’s as stunning as it is flavorful.

Sheet-Pan Pomegranate Chicken With Walnut Relish

This weeknight-friendly chicken dinner—made with pomegranate molasses and a toasted walnut relish—is inspired by the flavors of Persian fesenjan.

Spicy Eggplant Frittata

Silky Japanese eggplant and fiery serrano chile unite in this no-fuss frittata that’s brunch-ready, dinner-worthy, and wildly good.

Dark Chocolate Flax Bark

Crunchy, seedy flax crackers get topped with dark chocolate and a showering of sea salt for the ultimate sweet and salty snack.

Green Beans With Tahini Sbagliato

An accidental recipe (sbagliatio means mistaken in Italian) yields a delicious herby tahini dressing that is excellent poured over lightly blanched green beans.