Bellpepperss: Carrot Halwa

Carrot Pudding / Gajar Ka Halwa

From my childhood I was always eager to eat this dessert . Don’t know why … may be due that old advertisement on Hawkins contura pressure cooker where the lady makes carrot halwa, hope you guys remember. I always tell my mom to make this but she never did 😞. As a part of my post graduation internship I had to stay in a hostel at Mysore, there as an evening treat I got to taste this delicious halwa for the first time. Omg!!!! After a long wait I got to eat this super tasting halwa 😃. After coming to US I often make this as carrots are too cheap here ;-) I got a chance to treat my mom too with this. She enjoyed this very much 😍. It is too easy to make. With a very few ingredients a delicious sweet is ready. It is bit time consuming but if you make this pressure cooker that part also becomes easy. We had a baby shower this Saturday and I made this halwa as a treat for her. I had a very nice time with my friends. Its winter here , we hardly meet our friends as it is very difficult to step out .We had so much fun playing games and eating many special goodies. Thanks to all of you 😊. Coming back to carrot halwa it is very easy and quick to make. The carrots are cooked along with milk, sugar and ghee. You can also nuts and dry fruits to make it more rich and tasty. You can also add condensed milk and khoya (less moisture dairy product similar to ricotta cheese).It is mainly prepared during festive season like diwali (festival of lights), Raksha Badhan (love between brothers and sisters). If you want to impress somebody carrot halwa will be your right choice 😉. Okay then lets get started.

Preparation time: 15 min

Cooking time: 20 min

Serves: 6-7

Ingredients:

Carrot: 6-7 (each about 6 inches)

Whole milk: 1 ½ cup

Sugar: 1 ¾ -2 cups (according to the sweetness of carrots)

Ghee: 4 tbsp

Raisin 3 tbsp

Cashew: 15

Cardamom powder: ½ tsp

Method

1. Wash the carrots, cut the ends and peel as shown. Set aside.

2. Grate the carrots into a bowl with the help of a grater or food processer.

3. Heat a pressure cooker add a tbsp of ghee and throw in cashews and raisins. Fry cashews till they turn brown and raisins till they puff up. Set aside.

4. Add a tbsp of ghee to the same pressure cooker and add the grated carrots. Fry them in low heat for 3-4 min.

5. Add milk and a tbsp of ghee close the lid and pressure cook it for 1 whistle in medium –high flame.

6. Once the pressure subsides, open the cooker and cook in high flame till the milk evaporates. Stir in between. Once it is dry you can go ahead and add sugar.

7. When the milk dries up add sugar, addition of sugar again makes the mixture little runny. Cook in medium heat until it becomes thick by stirring in between.