Indian Carrot Pudding Gajar Halvah Recipes

CARROT HALWA | GAJAR HALWA RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash carrots under running water & peel them.
• Grate them in a food processor or with a hand grater.
• Dry roast nuts on a low heat until crunchy, cool & chop them. OR Alternately chop the nuts first & fry them in 1 tbsp ghee until slightly golden. Then add raisins & fry until they plump up. Remove to a plate.
• Next bring milk to a boil in a heavy bottom pot or deep pan.
• Add grated carrots and cook on a medium heat stirring often.
• Do not leave the pot unattended as the milk will get scorched.
• When the milk has completely evaporated add sugar and stir well.
• Sugar will release lot of moisture & will make the entire carrot halwa gooey.
• Cook until half the moisture evaporates, then stir in the ghee.
• Saute the carrot halwa well in ghee until the moisture evaporates completely.
• When it is done gajar halwa turns aromatic & thickens. It will still be moist. Sprinkle cardamom powder.
• Garnish carrot halwa with nuts. Serve warm or chilled with Ice cream.
• Press the saute button and add 1 tbsp ghee to the steel insert of the IP.
• When it is hot fry the nuts until light golden.
• Then add in raisins if using. When they plump up remove to a plate.
• Then add in the carrots & saute for 2 to 3 mins stirring well.
• Pour 1 cup milk and mix well. Deglaze by scrubbing the bottom of the pot with a spatula.
• Secure the instant pot & position the steam release handle to sealing.
• Press the pressure cook (manual) button & set the timing to 3 mins.
• When the instant pot beeps and finishes, do a manual pressure release carefully.
• Stir in the sugar, ghee & cardamom powder.
• Press the saute button & saute until the milk evaporates completely.
• Garnish gajar halwa with chopped nuts & raisins.

GAJAR KA HALWA - INDIAN CARROT PUDDING

Steps:

• Peel the carrots. Shred the carrots using the smaller side of the shredder. You can do it by hand or use a food processor.
• Heat a wok on medium heat, once hot, add 1 tbsp of ghee.
• Add the carrots and saute for about 8 minutes until the color of the carrots changes.
• Keep stirring to avoid burning. This is a labor of love.
• Add milk to the carrots. Cook the carrots and milk down for 6-7 minutes until all the milk is absorbed by the carrots.
• Keep stirring to avoid sticking and burning.
• Once all the milk is absorbed, this is what you should have.
• Add the sugar.
• Immediately after, add 1 more tbsp of ghee.
• Keep stirring. until all the water is absorbed which is left behind by the sugar. This process will take about 5-6 minutes.
• Once done, add cardamom powder. Stir.
• Add chopped cashews. You can also add almonds, pistachios, and raisins, however I just stick with cashews.
• Mix well.
• Dry roast the Gajar ka Halwa for a couple more minutes so the color of the carrots deepens slightly.
• Enjoy with a cup of my Kadak Masala Chai.

GAJAR HALWA (CARROT AND CARDAMOM PUDDING)

Steps:

• In a wide, heavy-bottomed skillet (don't use nonstick) over medium heat, melt ghee, then add carrots. Stir until carrots are well coated with ghee. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook until carrots are somewhat dry and caramelized, about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring often so they don't scorch.
• Once the carrots are nice and dried out, stir in the milk and cardamom and simmer, stirring every few minutes, until the milk has reduced and is almost fully absorbed, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle in the sugar, mix well to combine, and cook 5 to 8 more minutes until the mixture is almost dry and jammy. Serve warm or cold with toasted nuts sprinkled over the top.

GAJAR HALVA (CARROT PUDDING - AN INDIAN DESSERT)

Steps:

• Heat carrots and half-and-half to boiling in saucepan; reduce heat.
• Simmer uncovered, stirring frequently, until all the half & half is absorbed, about 45 minutes.
• Stir in the brown sugar, raisins, butter, cardamom and salt.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until all of the brown sugar is dissolved and the mixture is of your desired consistency, (pudding-like) about 15 minutes.
• Garnish with pistachios or slivered almonds.
• Serve warm and enjoy!