Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Pudding)
Local name: गाजर का हलवा
In short: Grated carrots slowly cooked in milk and ghee until thick, sweet and jammy, scented with cardamom and studded with nuts. A warming winter pudding. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 330 kcal
Gajar ka halwa is a winter pudding of grated carrots slowly cooked in milk and ghee until thick, sweet and jammy, then scented with cardamom and studded with nuts. It is served warm at Diwali, at weddings and on cold evenings, sometimes with a scoop of ice cream or a spoonful of cream. It takes patience rather than technique: a wide pan, steady heat and frequent stirring. The reward is a deep, caramel sweetness.
Instructions
- Heat the ghee in a wide, heavy pan over medium heat. Add the grated carrots and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until they soften and smell sweet.
- Pour in the milk and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes and scraping the bottom, until almost all the milk has evaporated.
- Stir in the sugar. The mixture will loosen as the sugar melts. Cook for another 10 to 12 minutes, stirring more often, until the halwa is thick and glossy and the ghee begins to separate at the edges.
- Stir in the cardamom, raisins and half of the nuts and cook for 2 minutes.
- Serve warm, scattered with the remaining nuts.
Tips
- Add the sugar only after the milk has reduced. Sugar added early keeps the carrots firm. Sweet, deep orange winter carrots give the best flavor.
- To save time, cook the carrots with the milk in a pressure cooker for 10 minutes, then cook uncovered with the sugar for 15 minutes until thick.
Questions and answers
Can I make gajar halwa ahead of time?
Yes. It keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes for 2 months. Warm it gently with a splash of milk before serving.
Can I make gajar halwa vegan?
Replace the ghee with coconut oil and the milk with full-fat coconut milk or almond milk. The texture will be a little different but the flavor is still good.
Do I need khoya for gajar halwa?
No. Simmering the milk until it reduces gives a similar body. Khoya, if you have it, adds extra richness at the end.
How long does it take to make Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Pudding)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Pudding)?
About 330 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 45 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 330 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 40 g |
| Sodium | 170 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
