Sohan halwa is a traditional dessert that is consumed throughout South Asia, mostly in Pakistan, India, Iran, and Afghanistan. Different versions of this sweet dish exist, but it is usually prepared with a mixture of milk, flour, sprouted wheat, water, lemon salt, sugar, and ghee that is boiled until it has thickened and developed a caramel-like color.
Whether round or square, this halwa variety is usually filled with chopped nuts such as pistachios, almonds, and walnuts, and it is often flavored with aromatic spices such as cardamom and saffron. Once cooled down, the halwa develops a hard, candy-like texture.
According to some sources, it was an original creation of a certain Hindu confectioner named Sohan, while others give credit to a renowned Governor of Multan called Deewan Sawan Mal, and yet others suggest the sweet dish is of Persian or Iranian origin.