In India while growing up every winters around November what used to be the most awaited dish in my household was Gajar ka halwa. Fresh carrots being abundantly available that too of great quality. It's a long process to make this carrot delicacy and thus used to be a big deal when Mom decides to make it. I still remember how I used to sit beside mom while she grate those carrots one by one, Me simply eating some of the grated carrot and waiting for the halwa to be ready!
Even today I love eating Gajar ka halwa as much as I did back then. Who doesn't? However I don't make it often, even though fresh carrots are available year round in California. Yes! It does take time. But recently with all cooking experiments with my new Instant pot (IP) I discovered an amazing way of making Carrot Halwa. To be honest I was bit nervous initially on how it will turn out but I must say it was simply delicious!
It was easy, clean and smooth process with no huge stack of dishes/pots to be done after! Sounds even more delightful right? So lets get cooking and see how I did it! I can't wait more to share this amazing recipe with you guys!
Ingredients: 2lb Medium size carrots 2 Cups Whole Milk 1 Cup Sugar 2 TBSP Ghee (Clarified Butter) 1 tsp Cardamom Powder 1-2 Saffron sticks Pinch of salt Roughly chopped dry fruits of your choice
Directions:
- Grate the carrots and keep it aside. I used a conventional grater, you can use food processor as well.
- Start the Instant Pot (IP) to Saute Mode for 2 mins.
- When IP is preheated, add ghee, grated carrots, cardamom powder and saffron sticks.
- Keep stirring for 2 mins.
- Now hit the cancel button on the IP. Add Milk & salt to the mixture in IP, close the lid and pressure cook for 2 mins on high pressure setting.
- After 2 mins, release all the pressure manually and open the lid carefully.
- Now again turn on the saute Mode, this time for 10 mins. Stir occasionally checking nothing sticks to bottom of the pot.
- Let the mixture thicken, at this stage you won't see any milk and mixture is reduced in quantity.
- Now add the sugar to the mixture and turn on the saute mode for 10 more minutes.
- Mix everything together until the mixture is coated with sugar completely.
- Let the mixture cook in sugar until ghee starts oozing out and mixture will start looking shiny and dry.
- Turn off the IP and let it cool to room temperature.
- Garnish the Halwa with roughly chopped dry fruits of your choice while serving.
So delicious Gajar ka Halwa AKA traditional Indian Carrot pudding is ready. You can serve this cold or hot. It is the best Indian dessert you can serve your family or guest! They will adore you for life 🙂
Do give this recipe a try and let me me know how you like it.