Yuvika's Kitchen: Carrot/ Gajar Halwa Shots

Tuesday 27 February 2018

Carrot/ Gajar Halwa Shots

Carrot / Gajar halwa shots

Carrot halwa is very popolar indian sweet, it’s a near-universal treat during Festive season be it holi, dewali. Here in Yuvika’s kitchen things are done differently keeping the traditional taste and presenting the dish in an unique and modern way.

Carrot halwa shots with rasmalai

Recipe for Carrot Halwa

Ingredients:

Carrot - 1 kg, peeled and grated

Milk -1 litre, preferably full fat

Sugar - 5 Tbsp

Clarified butter / Ghee - 2 Tbsp

Cardamom powder - 1/4 tsp

Condensed milk - 3/4 cup

Raisins- 8-10

Almonds/ pistachio to garnish

Method:

Traditional Way

Cook grated carrots with about a cup of milk till soft. You can do this in a thick bottomed pan. Once the milk starts boiling reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer.

Add the rest of the milk and continue to simmer. After 15-20 minutes, when all the milk is evaporated, add condensed milk to the dry mixture and tip in the sugar as well. Check the amount of sugar; you may require very less sugar as condensed milk is very sweet in itself. Let it simmer till condensed milk also is absorbed and mixture thick.

Add cardamom powder and mix well.

The next step is optional. In an another deep pan heat ghee, transfer cooked halwa to it and cook for another minute making sure you stir it without fail all the way through.

To serve: - Chop raw almonds/ pistachio, vertically if u can as it looks better that way, and layer them at the bottom of your presenting dish. Layer your halwa on top. This makes the almonds soak in the lovely juices from your halwa and combines the mixture. This is a tip I learned from my dear friend A. Thanks dear. :-). Feel free to sprinkle a few chopped almonds on top of your halwa too. - While serving scoop out large portions of your halwa on to your serving dish and serve it hot along with a scoop of yummy vanilla ice cream. Heaven!!!

Microwave method:

Heat ghee in a microwave safe bowl for 1 minute and add grated carrot. Cook for 2 minutes. Add milk and cook till milk evaporates, stirring occasionally. When the mixture thickens, add condensed milk and sugar. Again cook for another few minutes till mixture turns thick once again. Remove from microwave, add cardamom powder, garnish with almonds and serve.

A variation to the recipe is adding mewa/ khoya.

Simple Pressure cooker and Baking Method:

In a pressure cooker / Instant Pot add rougly chopped carrots, 1 cup milk, sugar, green cardamom, 1 tbsp of ghee. Now pressure cook for 15mins. With the help of hand blender, blend the mixture. Do not puree it. Blend it coarsely. Now take mixture into an oven safe bowl, and cook in pre heated oven for 25 mins at 180 degree C. Now take a pan add 1 tbsp ghee add the chopped nuts and raisins, fry till golden and pour this mixture over carrot halwa also add the green cardamom powder mix. Again cook this mixture for 6-8 minutes in oven. It’s ready to be served.

Plating my style:

Carrot halwa Shots

In a glass add 1 tsp of chopped nuts, then two scoop of carrot halwa. Now pour 1 spoon of rasmalai garnish with chopped pistachio. (Rasmalai recipe coming soon)