Gajar ka halwa is a combination of nuts, milk, sugar, khoya, and ghee with grated carrots. It is a light nutritious dessert with less fat than many other typical sweets from the Indian subcontinent. Gajar ka halwa has a medium shelf life so it is now sometimes exported.
Gajar ka Halwa, also known as carrot halwa, is a traditional Indian dessert that originates from the North Indian state of Punjab. It’s made with grated carrots, milk, sugar, and flavored with cardamom and nuts. Here’s a basic recipe to cook North Indian home-style Gajar ka Halwa:
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of carrots (about 4-5 medium-sized carrots), peeled and grated
- 500 ml full-fat milk
- 1/2 cup sugar (adjust according to taste)
- 4 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
- 4-5 green cardamom pods, crushed or powdered
- A handful of mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios), chopped
- A pinch of saffron (optional)
- 1-2 tablespoons khoya (optional)
Instructions:
- Grate the Carrots:
- Wash, peel, and grate the carrots. Use a fine grater for best results.
- Cook the Carrots:
- Heat ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan or kadhai.
- Add the grated carrots to the pan and sauté them in the ghee for about 5-7 minutes on medium heat. Stir occasionally.
- Add Milk:
- Pour the milk into the pan with the carrots. Mix well.
- Let it simmer on medium heat until the carrots are cooked and the milk has reduced to about half, stirring occasionally. This might take around 20-25 minutes.
- Add Sugar:
- Once the milk has reduced, add sugar to the pan. Mix well.
- Continue cooking on low-medium heat until the mixture thickens, and the sugar is completely dissolved. This could take another 10-15 minutes.
- Flavoring:
- Add crushed cardamom pods and saffron (if using) to the halwa. Mix well.
- Optionally, you can also add khoya at this stage for added richness. Khoya is a type of dried whole milk.
- Garnish:
- Add chopped nuts to the halwa mixture. Keep some nuts aside for garnishing.
- Mix well and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Serve:
- Once the halwa reaches the desired consistency (it should be thick and moist), turn off the heat.
- Garnish with the reserved chopped nuts.
- Gajar ka Halwa can be served hot, warm, or cold, according to preference. It’s often enjoyed as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Enjoy! Serve the delicious Gajar ka Halwa as a dessert after meals or as a sweet treat on its own.
This recipe serves about 4-6 people. Adjust the quantities according to your preference and the number of servings required.