Banana Halva

Ingredients

• 6 bananas, peeled (ripe)
• 4 ounces sugar
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 4 ounces ghee, melted (or butter)
• 2 ounces almonds, blanched and chopped
• crushed cardamom seed (just a few)
• saffron, for colouring (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Mash the bananas to a pulp and place in a saucepan with the sugar and water; stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved then boil rapidly for 5 minutes.

2. 2

   Remove pan from heat and gradually stir in the melted ghee.

3. 3

   Replace pan on the heat and stir constantly until the mixture begins to form a firm ball in the pan (about 10-15 minutes).

4. 4

   Stir in the nuts and cardamom seeds, colour with saffron if desired and turn out on to a flat dish.

5. 5

   When the mixture is cool, cut into 1 ½ inch squares.