Quick Gajar Halva Food

GAJAR KA HALWA

Steps:

• Bring the milk to boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, stirring often to keep the milk from burning. Reduce the heat enough to keep the milk in a low boil, and cook, stirring frequently, until the milk is reduced to about 1 1/2 to 2 cups, about 20 minutes.
• Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the nuts and cook, stirring, until golden and crunchy, about 2 minutes; remove to a paper towel and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add the carrots and cook over medium heat, stirring, until the carrots soften and dry up a little, about 15 minutes. If the carrots start sticking, add 1 tablespoon ghee.
• Add the reduced milk and cardamom if using and increase the heat to medium-high. Mix well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat a touch to maintain a heavy simmer, stirring regularly, until the milk is completely absorbed by the carrots, about 30 minutes.
• Add the sugar and cook, stirring regularly, until thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Taste and add more sugar if needed. Remove and discard the cardamom seeds if desired.
• If serving right away, add 3 tablespoons of ghee and cook, stirring, until the halwa starts pulling away from the side of the pan and is a little caramelized, about 10 minutes. Garnish with nuts before serving.
• Ideally, you should make the halwa earlier in the day or the day before. Just before serving, heat some ghee in a wok or large skillet (in India they would do it in a kadhai), add some of the halwa (just as much as you want to eat) and cook, stirring, until somewhat caramelized and a little crunchy. Garnish with the nuts and serve.

CARROT HALWA (GAJAR HALWA)

Steps:

• Put the carrots, pierced cardamom pods and milk in a heavy-based pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hr, stirring frequently until the milk has evaporated.
• Heat the butter in a deep pan, and stir-fry the carrot mixture for about 15-20 mins until darkened in colour and it has lost its wet, milky appearance.
• Add the sugar, raisins and almonds or pistachios, and stir-fry the halwa for another 5 mins. Serve hot. Will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to six months.

GAJAR KA HALWA | CARROT HALWA

Steps:

• First rinse, peel and then grate the carrots (8-9 medium sized tender juicy carrots), either with a hand held grater or in a food processor.
• You need approx 4 to 4.5 cups grated carrots.
• In a kadai or deep thick bottomed pan combine milk and grated carrots.
• On a low to medium flame, bring the whole mixture to a boil and then simmer.
• While the mixture is simmering on a low flame, keep on stirring in between.
• The grated carrots will cook in the milk and the milk will start to reduce and evaporate.
• When the milk has 75% reduced, add the ghee, sugar and powdered cardamom to the mixture.
• Stir well and continue to simmer and cook on a low flame.
• Do keep on stirring the halwa in between.
• Towards the end, add the cashews, almonds, saffron and raisins. Simmer the halwa till all the milk is evaporated. Switch off the burner.
• Serve gajar halwa hot, warm or you can also serve it cold. garnish with some chopped dry fruits while serving.

GAJJAR KA HALWA (CARROT HALWA)

Steps:

• In a large pan, bring the milk to a boil. Add the grated carrots to the pan and return the mixture to a boil.
• Add the cardamom pods and bay leaf to the pan. Lower the heat to prevent the milk from burning and continue to simmer the milk, stirring at regular intervals to prevent it from catching on the base of the pan.
• After approximately 2 hours, when all the milk has been absorbed, add the ghee or butter and the sugar. Continue to stir for a further 20 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the carrot paste is moist but with no excess liquid let in the pan.
• Serve the carrot halwa while still warm. I prefer to bring a large serving bowl to the table, and encourage everyone to help themselves, taking as little or as much as their personal sweet tooth dictates! Alongside the halwa, serve bowls of almond or pistachio slivers, to scatter over the halwa, and thick whipped cream, to dollop on the side.