Mohanthal — gram-flour fudge with cardamom
Mohanthal is a Gujarati and Rajasthani fudge — gram flour and ghee cooked together with milk, sugar and cardamom until thick, then poured into a tray, scored into squares and decorated with chopped nuts. The texture is denser than soan papdi and grainier than kaju katli, with a deep roasted-besan flavour.
i. Origin & history
Mohanthal is a festival sweet across western India — Diwali, Holi and Janmashtami all bring it out — and is reputedly named for Mohan, a name of Krishna.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 24 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 300 g gram flour (besan)
- 60 ml milk (to coarsen the besan)
- 200 g ghee
- 350 g sugar
- 150 ml water
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds
iii. Method
- Mix besan with milk in a bowl to a damp, sandy texture; rest 30 min then push through a coarse sieve.
- Heat ghee. Add besan; cook over medium-low, stirring constantly, 12-15 min until fragrant and deeply golden.
- In a separate pan, dissolve sugar in water; cook to a one-string consistency.
- Pour syrup into the besan; add cardamom; cook over low heat 3-4 min until just thickened.
- Pour into a greased tray; smooth; scatter with nuts; press in. Cool fully; cut into squares.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Gujarati mohanthal is the canonical. Rajasthani mohanthal is slightly less sweet. Chocolate mohanthal is a modern variant.
vi. Common questions
What is mohanthal?
Mohanthal is gram-flour fudge with cardamom, from indian & south asian cuisine. The texture is denser than soan papdi and grainier than kaju katli, with a deep roasted-besan flavour
Where is mohanthal from?
Mohanthal is from the indian & south asian dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does mohanthal keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 2 weeks airtight.