Gajar Halva #2

Gajar Halva is a beloved Indian dessert that transforms humble carrots into a luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth treat. This traditional recipe slowly simmers grated carrots in milk and cream until the mixture reduces to a thick, creamy paste. The natural sweetness of the carrots is enhanced by jaggery and sugar, creating a deep, caramel-like flavor profile. Aromatics like crushed cardamom seeds and ghee add warmth and richness, while toasted almonds and pistachios provide a delightful crunch and visual appeal. This dish is perfect for festive celebrations, family gatherings, or simply as a comforting end to a meal. Its vibrant orange color and inviting aroma make it a centerpiece worthy of any table. Serve it warm to experience the full depth of its creamy texture and complex flavors.

Cooking Method: Boiling

Cuisine: Indian

Courses: Desserts

Difficulty: Intermediate

Servings: 6

Calories: 1090.3

Dietary: Gluten-free

Description

Gajar Halva is a beloved Indian dessert that transforms humble carrots into a luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth treat. This traditional recipe slowly simmers grated carrots in milk and cream until the mixture reduces to a thick, creamy paste. The natural sweetness of the carrots is enhanced by jaggery and sugar, creating a deep, caramel-like flavor profile. Aromatics like crushed cardamom seeds and ghee add warmth and richness, while toasted almonds and pistachios provide a delightful crunch and visual appeal. This dish is perfect for festive celebrations, family gatherings, or simply as a comforting end to a meal. Its vibrant orange color and inviting aroma make it a centerpiece worthy of any table. Serve it warm to experience the full depth of its creamy texture and complex flavors.

Ingredients

6 md Carrots;scraped/coarse grate
1 quart Milk
1 cup Light cream
1 cup Jaggery (raw cane sugar) *
1/2 cup Sugar
1 1/2 cup Almonds, blanched;pulverized
1/4 cup Ghee
1/2 teaspoon Cardamom seeds; crushed
1/4 cup Pistachios; toasted/unsalted
1/4 cup Almonds; unsalted/slivered/

Directions

1
In a deep heavy 5- to 6-quart saucepan, combine the carrots, milk, and cream.
2
Stirring constantly, bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
3
Reduce the heat to moderate and, stirring occasionally, cook for 1 hour, or until the mixture has reduced to about half its original volume and is thick enough to coat a spoon heavily.
4
Stir in the jaggery and the sugar, and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
5
Reduce the heat to the lowest possible point, add the pulverized almonds and the ghee, and stir for 10 minutes more, or until the halva mixture is thick enough to draw away from the sides and bottom of the pan in a solid mass.
6
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cardamom.
7
With a metal spatula, spread the halva on a large heatproof platter, mound it slightly in the center, and decorate the top with pistachios and slivered almonds.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6

Amount Per Serving
Calories 1090.3kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 76.7g118%
Saturated Fat 18.8g94%
Cholesterol 70.8mg24%
Sodium 58705.2mg2447%
Total Carbohydrate 81.2g28%
Dietary Fiber 17.3g70%
Sugars 55.2g
Protein 33.0g66%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Substitute 1 cup dark-brown sugar combined with 1 tablespoon dark molasses for the jaggery if unavailable.

Serve warm or at room temperature.

In India, gajar halva is sometimes decorated with special edible silver leaf (vark) for festive occasions.

Keywords: carrot, halva, indian dessert, jaggery, ghee, cardamom, milk reduction, vegetarian, festive, traditional, pudding, almonds, pistachios, gajar, sweet, dessert recipe

Read it online: https://www.chefs-mate.com/recipe/gajar-halva-2/