Recipe for Gajar Ka Halwa

Gajar Ka Halwa is a winter dessert recipe from India. It is made with red carrots and milk as the main ingredients. The preparation time for this dessert is long; therefore, people make it in larger quantities so that it lasts longer and can be consumed over a couple of days. But the time and effort put into making Gajar ka Halwa are well worth it. The dessert is absolutely delicious and so tempting that it gets over in no time.

You can make this halwa and enjoy it hot. You can keep the rest in the fridge and consume it within a week. Every time, take out a portion, heat it in a microwave or pan, and serve.

Let’s start with the recipe:

Equipment Needed:

• Pan: https://amzn.to/3MstJ2N
• Grater: https://amzn.to/3MthuTv
• Cutting Board: https://amzn.to/3n9IXjM
• Knife Set: https://amzn.to/3FDcojG
• Thick-bottomed Sauce Pan: https://amzn.to/46coc7D
• Spatula: https://amzn.to/477AA9S

Ingredients needed for making Gajar Ka Halwa:

1. Carrots: 2 kg
2. Full-fat Milk: 2 liters
3. Sweetened Condensed Milk: 400 gm
4. Sugar: 300 gm
5. Saffron Strands: 8-10
6. Ghee: 100 gm
7. Chopped nuts like cashews, Almonds, and pistachios: 100 gm or as per your preference
8. Cardamom Powder: 1 teaspoon
9. Khoya: 3-4 tbsps

About Ingredient Sourcing in Germany:

Orange carrots are available all through the year in Germany. However, red carrots, which are preferred for this recipe, are sometimes available in supermarkets like Rewe and Tegut ( they are called Gourmet Karotten) or in Indian/Turkish shops between October and March.

I have used fresh milk with 3.5% fat in this recipe. To learn more about milk in supermarkets in Germany, read my article.

Condensed milk is also easily available in supermarkets in Germany. The most common one is Milchmädchen.

I used Rubenzucker for this recipe. You can read more about Sugar in supermarkets in Germany here.

Saffron and cardamom powder can be sourced from Indian shops. You can even buy from the online store of Spicelands. They are a big store in Frankfurt, delivering all across Germany.

Ghee is available in Indian shops and supermarkets. Read my article: A guide to sourcing Ghee in Germany.

Nuts are easily available in all supermarkets. Cashew nuts, almonds, pistachios and raisins are called Cashewkerne, Mandeln, Pistazien, and Rosinen, respectively.

Method for making Gajar Ka Halwa:

1. Wash, peel, and grate the carrots.
   
   
   
2. Transfer the carrots to a big, thick-bottomed pan. Add milk and saffron and start cooking them together. 
   
   
   
3. Keep the heat on medium and cook till the carrots are fully cooked and at least 50% of the water ( released from the carrots and the milk) evaporates. Stir with a spatula from time to time so that milk solids don’t stick to the base of the pan. This may take about an hour.
   
4. Now add cardamom powder and sugar. 
   
   
   
5. Add condensed milk.
   
   
   
6. Continue cooking, stirring from time to time, till all the water evaporates and only milk solids and carrots remain. This may take another hour or so.
   
   
   
7. Add Khoya. Mix.
   
   
   
8. Heat ghee in a separate pan. Fry the nuts. Now, add this mixture to the Halwa. Cook together on medium heat for another 15 minutes.
   
   
   
9. Mix everything well and serve. 
   
   

Some additional Notes:

1. Normally, Gajar Ka Halwa is made with red carrots as these carrots are sweeter than orange ones. However, if red carrots are unavailable, you can use orange ones ( just like I did).
2. Halwa tastes best when freshly made and served hot. If some of it is left, store it in a closed container in the fridge. Before serving, heat it in a microwave. If you are heating it on a pan, then add a little bit of milk and mix well, and you will get the right consistency.
3. I have added only almonds. You can add any nuts of your choice. Usually, cashews, pistachios, and raisins are added.

Here is the recipe in printable format:

Check out other recipes from my kitchen here.

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