This is the season for carrot halwa using milk. Because you know it is Diwali and party time where you and your friends union together. The primary goal of this assembly being eating, giving and receiving gifts and laughing until face hurt. Which is what this festival season is all about, bringing in the relatives, friends together through food to strengthen the bond. I really mean it, because celebration just for ourselves at our own home doesn’t seem so much fascinating to me. So when plan is set for partying, lets have this party specific dessert carrot halwa which I made using milk.
Carrot halwa is very very basic dessert and it suits the mood of party. The color, the rich creamy taste and the nuts that top it up is so very attractive and appetizing. In any dessert made out of veggie would probably have some raw, earthy flavor. This rawness needs to be substantially reduced to nil which I did through sauteing. The initial step of sauteing the grated carrot in ghee for some minutes is very critical in getting rid of rawness. So I recommend not to skip that step.
Cooking the sauteed carrot in milk has absolutely creamy effect. Milk makes the carrot halwa rich in taste and sugar gives glossy look which is how the dessert should look like. While cooking the carrot in milk, if you do not stir for a while, halwa sticks to the bottom. So as you start making this dessert, ensure your full focus and attention is on it!!
Halwa without nuts feel so bare and uncovered, so top this carrot halwa with generous nuts of your choice. Cashew, raisins, almond and pista would get along nicely with the dessert.
I see a bowl ful of carrot halwa in your party for Diwali and don’t forget to invite me…
Watch the video carrot halwa using milk:
Carrot Halwa using Milk
Ingredients
- Grated carrot- 4 cups
- Milk- 2 cups
- Sugar- 1 cup
- Ghee- 4 to 6 tsp
- Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp
- Almonds+Cashews+raisins- Handful
Instructions
Preparation
- Rinse and wash the carrots, trim the edges and grate them using vegetable grater. Measure and keep aside. I have used 4 cups of grated carrot.
Method
- Heat a heavy bottom pan or vessel, add ghee and grated carrot. Saute till the raw smell subsides and carrot shrinks off.
- When carrot reduces in volume, add milk. Let the carrot get cooked in milk till it is soft. Keep stirring to avoid burning at the bottom.
- Carrot absorbs milk and becomes completely dry. Next add sugar.
- The sugar dissolves in to liquid. Continue cooking till the carrot absorbs sugar and comes together as a mass. Add rest of the ghee in between.
- Finally add ghee roasted cashews, almonds, raisins and cardamom powder. Mix and switch off.
- Lip-smacking carrot halwa is ready to serve.
Notes
- Initially sauteing grated carrot is important, otherwise the raw smell will ruin the taste of halwa.
- After adding milk, keep stirring to avoid burning at the bottom.
- You can add some khoya too for enhancing the taste.
