Banana Halva - cooking recipe

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)

Preparation

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.
Remove pan from heat and gradually stir in the melted ghee.
Replace pan on the heat and stir constantly until the mixture begins to form a firm ball in the pan (about 10-15 minutes).
Stir in the nuts and cardamom seeds, colour with saffron if desired and turn out on to a flat dish.
When the mixture is cool, cut into 1 1/2 inch squares.