In Maharashtra, people enjoy many different kinds of dishes including puran poli and halwa. While the halwa is usually suji halwa, it is the best time to go beyond the traditional dishes to explore the unique produce of spring as you welcome summer with different kinds of fruits and vegetables like jackfruits, mangoes, coconuts, sweet potatoes and even healthy versions of the halwa using dates and walnuts. Image for representational purposes only.

Jackfruit Halwa
While suji halwa is really popular, the summer season calls for the use of jackfruit and Chef Prasad Parab of Coast & Bloom says you can even make halwa out of it. While the halwa is not on the Gudhi Bhojanam menu, Parab recalls eating the halwa while growing up as jackfruit is a favourite in Kerala. The halwa can be made with ghee, cashew bits, raisins, fresh jackfruit, fresh grated coconut, cardamom powder and desi jaggery. The halwa, he says, can be stored in a fridge for a week. Image for representational purposes only.

Shakarkandi ka Halwa
Beyond the goodness of jackfruit, Maharaj Bhawar Singh, who is the maharaj at Rajdhani in Mumbai says you can opt to make halwa out of sweet potatoes and turn it into something unique like the Shakarkhandi Halwa. Being a starchy root vegetable, it is not only good for boosting immunity, but also promoting gut health. Make it with sweet potatoes, few saffron (kesar) strands, warm milk, ghee, milk,, sugar, cardamom (elachi) powder and chopped mix nuts.

Mango Coconut Halwa
If you love mangoes and coconuts, then Chef Ruffy Shaikh, senior sous chef at ITC Grand Central in Parel, says you should definitely make the Mango Coconut Halwa. Use ripe mangoes, grated coconut, sugar, milk, ghee, cashews, almonds, pistachios, pinch of saffron strands and dried rose petals for garnish. Image for representational purposes only.

Walnut and Date Halwa 
Want to enjoy halwa but scared about gaining weight? Suman Agarwal, nutritionist and founder of SelfCare by Suman, says you can relish halwa and make it delicious too. The Walnut and Date Halwa is an innovative version of the classic suji halwa. Agarwal says this halwa is a lactose-free sooji halwa, unjunked with a generous burst of Omega 3-rich walnuts; it has 159 kilocalories. Make use of seedless dates, almonds, ghee, barik rava (fine semolina), walnuts, almonds and jaggery.