Recipe for Gajar Halwa
What’s your winters favorite sweet dish?
For me in winter, there's nothing cozier than cuddling up on the couch with a soft blanket and warm bowl of gajar ka halwa.
A bowl of warm Gajar Ka Halwa is so perfect to indulge in. A winter delicacy that needs no introduction! An Indian dessert loved by one and all. Moreover, some sweet dishes can be enjoyed in winters only, even though they are available throughout the year.
What does Gajar halwa means
In Hindi halwa means pudding and gajar means carrot, which is the main ingredient of this dessert. Although people in India will eat the gajar ka halwa or carrot pudding throughout the year, it is most popular during the winter season.
During winters, I make gajar ka halwa often. It is a popular sweet made in north India during winters. In Punjabi language carrot halwa is called as Gajrela. It is made with Red carrots that are easily available in the winters.
In America it is really difficult here to find red carrots. Most of the places will have orange carrots. Still it tastes great!!
Different ways of making Gajar Halwa
There are many ways of making it like you can make it with condensed milk or evaporated milk also known as khoya . These two methods takes less time to cook but here, I have followed the traditional method of simmering grated carrots in milk, which is sweetened with sugar and has roasted nuts in ghee(butter) and is flavored with cardamom powder. This creamy and rich carrot pudding is worth all the time and effort. Carrot halwa can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
How to serve Gajar Halwa
It can be served hot or cold or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
How to make Gajar Halwa or Gajrela
Ingredients
- 1/2 kg Carrot (approx. 4-5 large carrots)
- 3 cups full fat milk
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 2 tbsp Ghee(butter)
- 2 tbsp roughly chopped Almonds and Cashew nuts
- 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder for flavour
Instructions
1) Wash the carrots nicely and peel them.
2) In a heavy bottom pan over medium flame, roast the grated carrots for 5 minutes while mixing continuously.
3) Pour milk over roasted carrots and mix well. Bring it to boil over medium flame.
4) When it starts to boil, reduce flame to low and cook until almost milk is absorbed and mixture starts to thicken. It will take approx. 20 to 25 minutes. Stir occasionally in between to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
5) Now Add sugar now and Cook until all milk is absorbed and mixture turns thick . Stir occasionally in between.
6) Once the sugar completely melts and the halwa becomes dry, in another small pan roast the nuts in ghee or butter and mix it in halwa while stirring continuously. Be careful at this stage as the halwa tends to stick to the bottom of the pan . After roasting the halwa for around 5 minutes put off the flame. Flavor the halwa with cardamom powder and give a good mix.
7) Transfer it to a serving bowl and garnish with broken almonds and cashews
Servings- 2-3 servings
Calories- 300 cal
My favorite. I tried it. was awesome. Thank you so much mam
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