Gajar Halwa, or Gajrela (as it in known in Pubjab), is an Indian dessert made out of carrots, milk, sugar and nuts, and is one of the most popular Indian Desserts.
It is typically eaten during Indian festivals such as Diwali and Eid, as well as during the winter months, when deep red carrots are available in India.
Serves: 10-12 helpings
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 1 – 2 hours
Difficulty: Medium
Ingredients
- 8-9 medium carrots, yields approximately 4-4½ cups of grated carrots
- 4 cups full fat milk
- 6 tbsp ghee
- 12 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 15 cashews, chopped roughly
- 15 almonds, chopped roughly
- 4 tbsp golden raisins
- a pinch of saffron strands
- ¼ cup khoya
Method
- Rinse, peel and grate the carrots.
- In a kadhai or thick bottom pan, add the milk and grated carrots, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer on a low flame, while stirring in between.
- The grated carrots will cook in the milk, and the milk will start to reduce and thicken.
- When the milk has reduced by 75%, add the ghee, sugar and cardamom powder. Mix it in the carrot and milk mixture, and let it continue to simmer and cook on a low flame.
- Once the milk has reduced further, and the carrot mixture is quite thick, add the cashews, almonds, raisins and saffron.
- Crumble the khoya with your hands, add it to the carrot mixture. Mix thoroughly, and take it off the heat.
- The Gajar Halwa can be served wither hot or cold.
