Baluchistan is a province of Pakistan, very rich in traditional feasts. It has very different and traditional ways of cooking. Meat is an important part in Balochi cuisine and I will share some traditional Baluchi meat recipes as well. But today I am sharing a traditional and very famous dessert of Balochistan which is called Madar. It is a halwa prepared with dates (khajor) and semolina (soji) As Baluchistan region produces very high quality dates that's why the people use to prepare many sweet dishes out of these dates. Madar is also one of these traditional sweet delicacies of Balochistan and process of making madar is also very simple. I tried to search for meaning of word "madar" and just found that its a sweet dish made from dates fried in butter or ghee. Traditionally madar or dates halwa is made with suji or semolina but people also uses flour instead of semolina.
In a pan add 1cup butter or ghee and let it heat on medium flame.
Add soji (semolina) in this heated ghee and let it cook on low to medium flame till it turns fragrant and changes its color.
This will take about 8-10 minutes. Do not stop stirring the semolina while roasting as it can burn easily.
In another pan add de-seeded dates along with water and cook these on low flame. Stir the dates mixture in between.
After 10-15 minutes you will see the dates turn soft and come into a paste consistency.
Add remaining desi ghee in the dates mixture and cook for another 10 minutes on medium to low flame.
Then add roasted semolina in the dates mixture and combine well.
Add cardamom powder and fennel seeds powder and combine it as well.
Cover the pan and let this khajour halwa simmer for 4-5 minutes.
Garnish with chopped nuts of your choice.
Delicious and traditional Balochi madar (khajoor halwa) is ready to enjoy.
