Introduction
Halwa, a sweet dessert, is a dish consisting of Semolina, wheat, rice, or lentils simmered in sugar, ghee, water, or milk. Nuts and spices are added to enhance the taste. In this article, we will mainly focus on Gajar ka Halwa.
The Middle Eastern dessert known as halwa has spread throughout the world, becoming a favourite in countries like India, Iran, and Turkey. Semolina, wheat flour, lentils, nuts, and fruits are some of the ingredients used to make it. Halwa is often prepared with sugar, spices, and almonds and fried in ghee or butter.
Types of Halwa
Sooji Halwa: In India, this is the most popular kind of halwa. Semolina, sugar, ghee, and spices are used to make it.
Kheer halwa: This halwa is made with rice, milk, sugar, and spices. It is a popular dessert in Iran.
Dal Halwa:This halwa is made with lentils, sugar, ghee, and spices. It is a popular dessert in Turkey.
Gajar ka halwa: This halwa is made with carrots, sugar, ghee, and spices. It is a popular winter dessert in India. People of all ages can enjoy this dessert and it is pretty easy and simple to make. Furthermore, all the ingredients required are easily available.
Gajar ka Halwa
Gajar ka halwa’s precise ancestry is unknown, however, it is generally accepted that it came from the Indian subcontinent. Gajar ka halwa has been mentioned as far back as the 13th century, during the Mughal Empire. The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty that ruled over much of India from the 16th to the 18th century. They were known for their love of food and their patronage of chefs, and it is believed that they were responsible for popularising gajar ka halwaGajar ka halwa swiftly gained popularity as a dessert all over India. It is frequently offered during celebratory events like weddings, festivals, and birthdays. Due to the fact that it is a warm and soothing dessert, it is also a well-liked dish throughout the winter..
The word halwa is an Arabic word that denotes “dessert” or ” sweet”.The dessert was probably spread throughout the world through trade routes and cultural interactions among countries and continents. Halwa is famous in most places of the world but particularly popular in countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and some Middle east countries.
There are many different types of halwa in South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and other places since halwa recipes have changed over time and have been tailored and adapted to local tastes and ingredients in various countries. Halwa is consumed in different parts of the world. But the way of consumption is different with distinctive regional twists.
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Ingredients Required
Ingredients may vary according to our preference and the type of halwa made. The major ingredients used in Gajar ka halwa are:
- Milk
- Carrot
- Nuts(almonds,cashew nuts,pistachios)
- Sugar
- Butter
- Cardamom etc.
In Gajar ka halwa, grated carrot is used and cooked in ghee. Using high-quality milk makes the halwa tastier. Cook the carrots in ghee until they become soft and tender. Chopped nuts like almonds or pistachios are added to enhance the taste.
Methods Of Making Gajar Ka Halwa
The methods of making Gajar ka halwa are listed below:
1) Traditional stove method: In this method all the ingredients are added and cooked on the stovetop until the mixture thickens and turns into a halwa.
2)Microwave method: Halwa is made in a microwave-safe dish and cooked in the microwave with stirring at intervals.
3) Slow cooker method: The halwa is cooked in low heat for several hours in a cooker.
4) Sugar-free gajar ka Halwa: Instead of sugar, natural sweeteners like stevia, maple syrup etc are used.
5)Instant Gajar ka Halwa Mix: Prepare a dry mixture of grated carrots, sugar, and cardamom powder that can be kept and later make halwa quickly by merely adding milk and ghee.
6) Vegan Gajar ka Halwa: Plant-based milk like almond or coconut milk is used in place of animal milk.
7)Low fat gajar ka halwa
8)Mawa(Khaya)Gajar ka Halwa
1. Gajar Ka Halwa Recipe With Milk
Recipes vary according to place, people, and availability of ingredients.
The general recipe to make Gajar ka halwa using milk is described below:
- First of all, ensure that you have all the above-mentioned ingredients.
- Grate the Carrot and chopped the nuts
- Add the grated carrot and milk (full-fat milk) to a heavy-bottomed pan . Cook on medium heat, with occasional stirring until the milk starts to boil.
- When the Halwa starts to become viscous, the flame should be low and continuous stirring is required to avoid sticking of the halwa to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the milk has almost evaporated, add sugar to the carrot mixture. Stir well and cook for another 10-15 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture thickens.
- In a separate pan fry all the dry fruits in ghee until they turn red. But don’t make them dark. Add this ghee nut mixture to the halwa and mix thoroughly.
- In order to enhance the taste add cardamom powder and if available add saffron as well.
- The halwa is ready. Serve it with extra chopped nuts on top.
Now you can enjoy your homemade Gajar ka halwa made using milk.
2. Gajar Ka Halwa Recipe Without Milk
In this method we are using neither milk nor khoya(solid milk).
- First, heat the pan and heat the ghee or coconut oil.
- Then add grated carrot and cover the pan. Leave the carrot for ⅘ minutes in low flame heat.
- When the carrot becomes soft and reduced, mix well and cover again for just ⅔ minutes. If possible use a heavy bottom pan so that you don’t have to keep stirring the carrot.
- The carrot is perfectly cooked, then add sugar as per the amount of carrot used. Sugar secretes water and the carrot is cooked itself.
- Mix it well and cook until all the water in the carrot is dried. After adding the sugar, the halwa may stick to the pan to prevent it from sticking, cook the halwa on low flame.
- When all the moisture is evaporated add the powder of cashew nut, which causes binding in the halwa and enhances the taste. This cashew nut powder replaces the khoya.
- We can add cream to add up to the taste. If you don’t have cream you can add ghee or coconut at last.
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Gajar Ka Halwa Calories
The calorie count and nutritional values can vary slightly based on the specific ingredients and the cooking method. If milk and ghee are used in more quantity the calory content may increase drastically. Therefore select the number of ingredients appropriately.We can check the labels of the individual ingredients for more precise nutritional importance.
Ingredients | Amount | Calories(approximately) |
1.Carrots | 500g | 200 |
2.Ghee | ¼ cup | 480 |
3.Sugar | 1 cup | 770 |
4.Chopped nuts | ¼ cup | 160-200 |
5.Khoya | ¼ cup | 200 |
6.cardamom powder | ½ | 5 |
Benefits of Eating Gajar ka Halwa
It’s critical to remember that Gajar ka Halwa is a sweet dish that might be calorie-dense because of the presence of sugar and ghee. To experience the benefits without consuming too many calories, moderation is essential.
- Carrots are a rich source of vitamin A and also contain other vitamins like vitamin C , potassium, and dietary fiber.
- Carrots contain anti-oxidants like beta-carotene.
- The high vitamin A content in carrots helps to maintain good vision and eye health. And the dietary fibers in carrot aid digestion and help promote a healthy digestive system by supporting regular bowel movements.
- The healthy fat i.e ghee helps the body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the carrots and is a good source of energy.
- The combination of Gajar and ghee provides a feeling of fullness and satiety.
Final Verdict
Gajar ka Halwa is a sweet Indian dessert made with carrots, milk, sugar, and spices. This desert is considered perfect for every occasion. Traditionally, Gajar ka Halwa is served hot but it can also be served cold. To intensify the taste chopped nuts like almonds, Cashew and spices can be used.
This halwa is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and is a perfect way to end a meal or to enjoy it as a snack.
The benefits of this dish are good for eye health, boosts immunity, keeps the body warm, is good for skin and bones, and many more. However, due to the use of fat, ghee, and sugar, the calorie content may be high. Thus if we are on a strict diet you must consult your dietician before eating the halwa. You can even replace these ingredients and make low-calorie Gajar ka halwa.
Thus if you want a quick, easy, and delicious dessert Gajar ka halwa is the best option. When are you gonna make Gajar ka halwa??