For the Chef in u……, Guest Blogger, Indian, sweets

Gajar ka Halwa

This is a part of the series ……. For the Chef in u

Contributed by YUMMRAJ’s favourite Chef ANONYMOUS
Super easy to make & Super good to eat……………

Gajar ka Halwa (carrot pudding) is an age old dish for which every person cooking it has his/her own variant. The ones available at shops are usually richer & different than the ones made at home – however the halwa is almost always tastier at home than at shops. This is made in almost all homes in Northern part of India.

So here comes my take on Gajar ka Halwa.

Peel & Grate 1.5 kilos of Thick fat red carrots.

grated carrots - U can make it thin & flat like in the picture or really thin, like a thread

Fry them in a nonstick kadhai with 2 tablespoons of desi ghee (clarified butter).

the carrots change color & texture as u fry them - also shrink in volume

Fry on medium fire till all the liquid oozing out of the carrots evaporates. Keep stirring all the while to avoid burning at the bottom.

Simultaneously (same time as u put the carrot on the stove) start boiling 2 liters of full cream milk – keep reducing that till the carrot mixture is dry.

reduced full cream milk

Add the reduced milk to the cooked carrot.

mix the reduced full cream milk & the dry fried carrots

Keep stirring till all the liquid has almost dried.

dried halwa after evaporating all the liquids

Add sugar to taste. Every person / family has a particular level of liking for sweetness. So keep adding sugar till u reach the optimum taste.

the final halwa pre garnishing - notice the change in texture from all the previous pics

Keep stirring & frying till all the moisture has evaporated. At this point add 2 tablespoons of ghee & fry till the sugar has caramelized – till the texture becomes slightly sticky.

Crush 2 -3 pods of green cardamom & sprinkle on top.

Garnish with slivered almonds, pistachios & cashewnuts in any ratio & any amount based on ur liking.

Serve hot & enjoy ur creation.

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