Carrot Kheer (Carrot Payasam)
Carrot Kheer is a creamy Indian dessert made by blending cooked carrots and cashews with milk, sugar, cardamom, and saffron for aromatic sweetness. The mixture simmers until thickened, resulting in a smooth pudding with nutty and floral notes, garnished with almonds or pistachios. This recipe balances the natural sweetness of carrots with warming spices and rich dairy for a comforting treat.
Ingredients
- 3 carrot medium, cut into pieces, about 300 grams
- 1/4 cup cashews raw and unsalted, about 35 grams
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 litre milk about 34 oz, preferably whole milk
- 1/3 cup sugar or Jaggery Powder, see notes to use dates
- 1 pinch saffron optional, aka Kesar
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder aka Elaichi
- almonds to garnish, or pistachios
Instructions
- Peel the skin of the carrots and roughly cut in pieces.
- Add the carrots and cashews with 1/2 cup of water to the pressure cooker to start cooking.
- Pressure cook for 7 minutes in the Instant Pot or two whistles in a stovetop pressure cooker with the vent in the sealing position. When the pressure cooking is done, let the pressure release naturally.
- While the carrots are cooking, add the milk to a large pan and bring it to a boil.
- Transfer the contents to a blender and blend to a smooth paste. If needed, add some portion of the milk while blending. (Depending on your blender, you might want to cool a bit before blending)
- Add the blended mixture to the boiled milk and stir well until it is all mixed well. Add cardamom powder, saffron strands, and sugar. Give a good stir.
- Let the kheer simmer for 25 minutes until it is thickened. Make sure to stir the kheer at regular intervals.
- Let the kheer cool down and you can chill it in the refrigerator. Serve in bowls and garnish with slivered almonds and pistachios.
Instant Pot Carrot Kheer
- If you prefer to do it all in the instant pot, once you belnd the carrots and cashews, add them back to the instant pot. Add the milk and give it a good stir. Bring the carrot kheer to a boil and simmer on low saute for 20-25 minutes. Make sure to stir at regular intervals.
Notes
- Sanitize Instant Pot parts thoroughly before cooking milk-based desserts to avoid odors.
- Increase cashews to 1/3 cup for a thicker, creamier kheer.
- To sweeten without sugar, add seven large pitted Medjool dates with carrots and cashews during pressure cooking.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 189
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 189kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 24g | 8% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 21mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 88mg | 4% |
| Potassium | 393mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
| Vitamin A | 5374IU | 107% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 225mg | 23% |
| Iron | 0.5mg | 3% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.