Karah prasad
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
A soft, glossy halwa of equal parts whole-wheat flour, ghee and sugar, prepared with prayer and given as blessed food in every gurdwara.
Region: Punjab and Sikh communities everywhereOccasion: Offered at gurdwaras; Gurpurabs, Baisakhi and family prayersTime: 30 minServes: 8Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole-wheat flour (atta)
- 1 cup ghee
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 cups water
Method
- Boil the water and sugar together until the sugar dissolves. Keep the syrup hot.
- Heat the ghee in a heavy kadhai (karah) and add the flour.
- Roast on low to medium heat, stirring all the time, for 12–15 minutes until it turns golden brown and smells nutty.
- Carefully pour in the hot syrup; it will splutter. Stir quickly to stop lumps.
- Keep stirring until the halwa thickens, leaves the sides of the pan and the ghee starts to shine on the surface.
- In a gurdwara it is prepared while reciting Gurbani, offered during Ardas and then shared with the sangat (congregation).
History
Karah prasad takes its name from the karah, the iron pan it is cooked in. Equal measures of flour, ghee and sugar are the rule followed in gurdwaras.
Significance
Every visitor to a gurdwara receives karah prasad in cupped hands as a blessing, a sign that all are equal before the Guru.