5.0 from 9 votes
Gajar Halwa
Gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa) is a wonderful North Indian dessert made with carrots, spices, milk and sugar.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 276 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Indian
Ingredients
- a pinch saffron strands
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons ghee or butter
- 330 g carrots 3 cups or 2 large carrots, grated
- 700 ml milk 3 cups, whole
- 2 cardamoms crushed
- 50 g sugar ¼ cup, granulated
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 clove crushed
- a pinch salt
- 120 g Creme Fraiche ½ cup, or heavy cream
Instructions
- Crush and soak the saffron in 2 tablespoons of water for 20 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, heat the milk and cardamom pods. Once it comes to a boil, turn off the heat, remove the crushed cardamom pods and set aside.
- In a large skillet, melt the ghee/butter and add the carrots. Stir and cook over a low heat till softened (approx. 7 minutes).
- Pour in half the milk, then add sugar, the saffron and its water, cinnamon, crushed clove and salt, stirring occasionally till the liquid has reduced by half.
- Add the remaining milk and gently simmer till there is no liquid left.
- Stir in the crème fraîche and reduce till the halwa is no longer runny. Serve warm or cold.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- For best results, use full cream (whole) milk, rather than semi-skimmed.
- Use a large heavy iron skillet as it holds the heat well on a low flame.
- U
- se a large heavy iron skillet
- as it holds the heat well on a low flame.
- The carrots are cooked in butter till softened, not browned.
- The carrots are cooked in butter till softened, not browned.
- As they cook, they become sweeter as they caramelize, so adjust the amount of sugar accordingly to taste.
- As they cook, they become sweeter as they caramelize, so a
- Add half the cardamom flavoured milk, sugar and the salt (this helps to accentuate the flavours) and simmer till reduced.
- Add half the cardamom flavoured milk, sugar and the salt (this helps to accentuate the flavours) and simmer till reduced.
- The consistency should be similar to that of rice pudding consistency (not dry).
- The consistency should be similar to that of rice pudding consistency (not dry).
Nutrition Information
Serving
1serving
Calories
276kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
20g
(7%)
Protein
7g
(14%)
Fat
19g
(29%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Cholesterol
52mg
(17%)
Sodium
169mg
(7%)
Potassium
600mg
(17%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
15g
(30%)
Vitamin A
16513IU
(330%)
Vitamin C
6mg
(7%)
Calcium
274mg
(27%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 276
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 276kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 7g | 14% |
| Fat | 19g | 29% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 52mg | 17% |
| Sodium | 169mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 600mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 15g | 30% |
| Vitamin A | 16513IU | 330% |
| Vitamin C | 6mg | 7% |
| Calcium | 274mg | 27% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.