Gajar ka Halwa

 #Gajarkahalwa is an indisputable king of winter desserts! There is no single family in Northern India that would not prepare this delicacy in cold winter days.

Usually this Halwa is time taking but here is my improved version and trust me, it makes a perfect halwai style Halwa in just under 30 minutes!

Ingredients:

1. Gajar or Carrot- 1 lb. Grated

2. Whole milk- 3 cups

3. Desi ghee-4 -5 heaped tbsp.

4. Sugar-Approx. 1 cup or according to taste 

6. Green cardamom powder-1 tsp.

7. Nuts of your choice for garnishing 

8. Beetroot-grated about 3 tbsp. To give Halwa a nice India like hue (If you are using Indian Red Carrots, skip this).

Method:

* Grease a kadai or wide thick bottomed pan(iron kadai would be perfect though) with a little ghee and pour the milk and start to cook it on high flame.

* Side by side, heat a non stick pan and add ghee, when ghee melts, add grated carrots and beetroot and on medium flame cook it by stirring often.

* Always stir the milk which will thicken and become khoya or Mawa soon.

* Keep an eye on carrots too.

* When carrots are soft and a nice aroma comes out, approximately 20 minutes, add sugar and green cardamom powder and stir.

* By this time, milk will also reduce and be careful in stirring it, milk should not be burnt, it should remain white.

* Now add this to your carrots and mix for about 5 minutes. 

* Garnish with chopped nuts and if you like, coarsely smash a milk or kaju burfi and add into it as I did in Carrot boy . Absolutely optional step but makes your Halwa halwai style!