Description
Gajar Ka Halwa, a traditional Indian dessert, is a rich and creamy carrot pudding made by slow-cooking grated carrots in whole milk, sweetened with sugar, and flavored with cardamom, garnished with nuts and raisins. This comforting dessert is perfect for festive occasions or a delightful treat any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 8 to 9 medium carrots, juicy and tender (about 650 grams or 4 to 4.5 cups grated)
Dairy
- 4 cups whole milk or full-fat organic milk
- 4 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)
Sweeteners & Flavorings
- 10 to 12 tablespoons sugar or raw sugar (180 to 190 grams, adjust as needed)
- ½ to 1 teaspoon cardamom powder (or 5 to 6 green cardamoms powdered finely)
- 1 pinch saffron strands (optional)
Nuts & Dried Fruit
- 10 to 12 cashews, chopped
- 10 to 12 almonds, sliced or chopped
- 2 tablespoons golden raisins
Instructions
- Prepare the Carrots: Rinse the carrots thoroughly, then peel and grate them using a hand-held grater or a food processor to get about 4 to 4.5 cups of grated carrots.
- Cook Carrots in Milk: In a thick-bottomed pan or kadai, combine the grated carrots with 4 cups of whole milk. Place over low to medium heat and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Stir frequently to prevent sticking, allowing the carrots to cook and the milk to reduce by approximately 75%.
- Add Ghee, Sugar, and Cardamom: Once the milk has reduced substantially, stir in 4 tablespoons of ghee, 10 to 12 tablespoons of sugar according to taste, and ½ to 1 teaspoon of cardamom powder. Mix well and continue to simmer on low heat, stirring intermittently.
- Incorporate Nuts and Raisins: Towards the end of cooking, add the chopped cashews, sliced almonds, golden raisins, and saffron strands if using. Continue to cook on low flame until all the milk has evaporated and the mixture thickens.
- Finish and Serve: Turn off the heat once the halwa is thick and ghee starts to separate. Serve hot, warm, or cold, garnished with additional chopped dry fruits as preferred.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of sugar based on your preference for sweetness.
- Using full-fat milk and ghee enhances the rich texture and flavor of the halwa.
- Saffron is optional but adds a beautiful aroma and color.
- Stir continuously while simmering to avoid the milk burning or sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Gajar Ka Halwa tastes great served warm but can also be enjoyed chilled.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
Keywords: Gajar Ka Halwa, Carrot Halwa, Indian Dessert, Carrot Pudding, Traditional Indian Sweets
