Indian Carrot Pudding Recipes

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.

INDIAN CARROT DESSERT - GAJAR KA HALWA

Steps:

• Grate the carrots either using a hand grater or a food processor.
• Warm the ghee in a large pot. Add the grated carrots and saute for about 5 minutes until they soften, stirring constantly.
• Add the milk and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for 2-3 hours until all the milk is absorbed and there is no liquid left. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• Raise the heat to medium and add the sugar. Cook for 30 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until the sugar melts.
• Add the cardamom, almonds, and raisins. Cook 15-20 minutes more until the mixture gets really dry and starts to pull away from the sides of the pot. Keep stirring actively at this point because it can easily burn.
• When done, remove from the heat and let cool. Serve either warm or chilled garnished with some chopped pistachios. Enjoy!

CARROT PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine carrots, potatoes, sugar, raisins, flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, all spice, and ground cloves. Transfer mixture to a clean 1 pound coffee can. Secure wax paper over the top and place the filled can in a large pot with 2 to 3 inches of water. Cover the pot and bring the water to a simmer.
• Steam the cake for 2 hours. Serve warm.
• Buttery sauce: In a medium-size pot, combine butter or margarine, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Heat until the mixture is liquid. Spoon mixture over the warm carrot pudding to serve.

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!

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.

INDIAN CARROT PUDDING

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, place the milk over medium high heat, and bring to a boil. Sprinkle the rice into the boiling milk, stirring constantly for several minutes to keep the rice from settling on the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the rice at a gentle boil until the milk is reduced by half and the rice is tender, about 20 minutes, stirring often to prevent a skin from forming on the surface of the milk. Stir the carrots into the milk-rice mixture and continue cooking until the carrots are tender and the mixture is reduced to a thick sauce, about 15 minutes; stir frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom. Stir the sugar, about two-thirds of the almonds or pistachios, and the cardamom into the pudding and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture begins to stick to the pan bottom, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, spoon into a bowl, and let cool to room temperature. Stir 1/4 cup of the cream or coconut milk and the rosewater into the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and chill for at least 3 hours. Shortly before serving, remove from the refrigerator and check consistency; it should be a bit thinner than traditional rice pudding. If it seems too thick, stir in a little more cream or coconut milk. Spoon into individual bowls and sprinkle with the remaining almonds or pistachios and the silver and/or gold leaf (if used).

INDIAN RICE AND CARROT PUDDING

Steps:

• Combine milk, carrots, rice, cardamom, cinnamon and ginger in a 4-qt. slow cooker. Stir in half the chopped pistachios. Cook, covered, on high heat for 2-1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add agave and raisins; reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until rice is tender, 15 minutes longer. If desired, stir in rose water. Serve warm or refrigerate and serve chilled. Garnish each serving with remaining pistachios.