Gajar Halwa

Gajar ka Halwa is a very popular Indian sweet dish and is especially made during winters when red carrots are available in abundance. This dish is a bit time consuming and also contains high amounts of sugar. However, you can adjust the quantity of sugar as per your preference. The method shared below is very traditional and gives the best outcome. However, you can also try some alternate methods.


Ingredients :

4 cups grated red carrots (approx. 1 kg)
2 - 2 & 1/2 cups boiled full fat milk
250 gms mava (Khoa-milk thickened by heating in an open iron pan)
3 tbspns Ghee + 1 tspn ghee
1 & 1/2 cup Sugar (or as per taste)
1 tspn Cardamom powder
15-18 Saffron strands (soaked in milk) 
1/4 cup almonds (blanched in hot water and cut vertically)
3 tbspns raisins (soaked in water)

Method :

Take 3 tbspns ghee in a large pan and heat it. Once it melts, then add grated carrots to it. Saute the grated carrots in ghee for about 2-3 minutes. Then add boiled full fat milk into it. Turn the flame to low and keep stirring the mixture at regular intervals. 

Simultaneously  heat 1 tspn ghee in another pan and add khoa to it. Saute it in ghee on low flame, till it slightly changes its colour. Set it aside to add it in Gajar Halwa.

Once the milk is absorbed in carrot, add cooked khoa into the mixture and mix it. Then add Sugar to the mixture. Stir the mixture and further cook it till the sugar is melted and absorbed in the carrots.

Lastly add cardamom powder, Saffron strands, blanched and chopped almonds and soaked raisins. Mix it in the halwa. Garnish with dry fruits of your choice. Serve it either hot or cold. It tastes equally good.

Notes :

The above quantity yields for approximately 4 people
Time taken is approximately an hour and half on low flame
I have used Saffron Syrup instead of Saffron strands
You may substitute milk and khoa with condensed milk 

Stepwise Pictures :

Sending this entry to Kavi's Kid's Delight : Something Sweet Event,  Anzz's Valentines-special event, Teena Mary's Valentine's Day Event and Vardhini's event  Sweet Luv.