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Gajar ka halwa

Gajar Ka Halwa

Gajar ka Halwa, also known as carrot halwa, is a beloved North Indian dessert made by slow-cooking grated red carrots in full-fat milk, sweetened with sugar, enriched with ghee, and flavored with cardamom. Garnished with toasted nuts and saffron, this festive sweet is rich, comforting, and perfect for special occasions or winter indulgence.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Dessert, sweets
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kg fresh red carrots grated
  • 1 liter full-fat milk
  • 3/4 cup sugar adjust to taste
  • 1/4 cup ghee clarified butter
  • 5 –6 green cardamom pods crushed or powdered
  • 1/2 cup khoya optional
  • 10 –12 cashews chopped
  • 10 –12 almonds sliced
  • 10 –12 pistachios chopped
  • A few strands of saffron optional

Method
 

1. Grate Carrots
  1. Peel, wash, and finely grate carrots.
2. Cook with Milk
  1. Boil milk in a heavy-bottomed pan. Add grated carrots.
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the milk is fully absorbed (30–40 minutes).
3. Add Sugar & Cardamom
  1. Mix in sugar and crushed cardamom.
  2. Cook until sugar dissolves and mixture thickens further.
4. Add Ghee & Nuts
  1. Toast chopped nuts in ghee. Add them to the halwa.
  2. Simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring continuously.
5. Optional: Add Khoya
  1. Stir in crumbled khoya for a richer flavor and texture.
6. Final Touch
  1. Once thick and aromatic, turn off the heat.
  2. Garnish with nuts and saffron strands.