Gajrela – Carrot Halwa – Gajar Halwa
Ingredients
| Prep & Cook Time | Type | Flavour |
| 30 minutes + 40 minutes | Punjabi | Sweet |
| Course | Dietary Pattern | Serving |
| Dessert | Lacto-veg, Vegetarian, Includes dairy, No eggs, No meat |
6
|
-
Preparation
- 1 kg Carrots (cleaned, peeled, and grated)
- 4 tablespoons Clarified butter (ghee)
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 200 grams Khoya / Mawa (thickened milk solids)
- 1/2 cup Cashews
- 1/2 cup Almonds
Steps
Preparation
- Wash and peel the carrots. Grate them and keep aside.
- Chop the cashews and almonds into small pieces. Roast them in one-quarter of the ghee on a low flame for about a minute. Keep aside.
- Grate the khoya / mawa and keep aside.
Cooking
- Cook the grated carrots with 2 tablespoons of water in a pressure cooker until one whistle.
- Allow the steam to release naturally, then open the cooker carefully.
- Transfer the cooked carrots to a deep pan or wok.
- Cook on a medium-low flame until all the moisture evaporates. Do not stir too much, as this may mash the carrots.
- Add the remaining ghee and roast the carrots for about 5 minutes.
- Add sugar and cook until all the moisture evaporates again.
- Add the roasted dry fruits and mix well.
- Add the grated khoya / mawa and cook until rest of moisture also evaporates.
- The halwa is ready to serve. Enjoy it hot or once it has cooled down.
Gajar ka halwa, also known as Gajrela, is a classic North Indian carrot pudding traditionally prepared by slow-cooking freshly grated red carrots with full-fat milk, sugar, and ghee. It is a popular winter dessert and is often served during festivals such as Diwali and Holi.