Carrot or Gajar Halwa
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” ― Edith Sitwell
I find winters comforting. It reminds me that the holiday season is coming closer and a perfect time to indulge in rich and feel good desserts. It is also a great time to use up winter vegetables. Their natural sweetness makes them perfect for addition to desserts. The first dessert that popped into my head was Carrot Halwa. The word Halwa originates from Middle East and literally means a dense compact dessert. The inclusion of carrot is wonderful and a delicious delight as the main ingredient in a halwa.
Carrot or Gajar Halwa is mainly a dessert pudding made by cooking grated carrot, milk and sugar. The dessert is very popular in Northern Indian households during winters and fondly known as Gajrela. It does take to refrigeration well and therefore a great make ahead dessert. Carrot halwa can be served hot or cold as preferred. It’s vibrant colour, aroma, and slightly chewy texture is perfect for those wintery cold days.
Serves: 10
INGREDIENTS:
1 kg carrots, grated
1/2 tin or 200g – Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups or 500ml milk
25g cashewnuts, roughly chopped
25g golden raisins
2 tbsp ghee or clarified butter
1 tsp cardamom powder
METHOD:
- Heat 1 tbsp ghee and fry cashew nuts and raisins till golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- In the same pan, heat the remaining ghee. Mix carrots and milk. Cook on low flame, stirring occasionally, till the milk dries up.
- Add condensed milk and continue cooking on low flame, stirring occasionally, till the mixture leaves the sides of the pan. This is will take approx 20-25 mins.
- Add cardamom powder and stir well.
- Garnish with nuts and raisins and serve hot.
Enjoy!
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Love & Hugs,
Trupti
Yummy!! just love this halwa! missing the red carrots here 🙁
Thank you dear Freda 🙂 I know it is so difficult to get so many varieties of veggies here as well.
This is one of my favorite desserts! Couple it with vanilla ice cream – you would be in food heaven 🙂
absolutely agree with you dear 🙂 Hot halwa and ice cream – my favourite way to eat it.
Delicious ☺☺
Thank you Lina 🙂
Reblogged this on MAXIMUSOPTIMUSDOMINUS.
A wonderful choice!!! 😉
Joe xxx
Thank you Joe 🙂
So welcome😉
This looks beautiful and sounds so good!
😘thank you Lyn! Have you tasted halwa before ?
yes I have it is common in Arab cooking as well!
Yes I know 🙂 you have to try this though ! 😋👌🏼
My favorite. Thanks for sharing. Looks heart warmingly delicious. Just what we need to beat this chill.
Thanks dear 🙂 😘
One of my favorite 🙂 Looks so good and delicious!
😀thanks a ton !
So unique and innovative for carrots!
🙂 yes.. great way to eat up vegetables.
splendid pictures and as usual exceptionally well presented.
Thank you so much 🙂
Winters are the best time for this halva, cravingsss!!😣
Let’s do the same.. My recipe and you enjoy there 🙂
Perfect
Isn’t it very late your end ?
My daughter has an exam so she was making a lot of noise which woke me up.. Haha
Ohooo 😉