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    Home » Sweets » Carrot Halwa | Gajar Ka Halwa

    Carrot Halwa | Gajar Ka Halwa

    Posted on January 18, 2023 · Last Updated on January 18, 2023 · By Srividhya G · 16 Comments

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    collage of carrot halwa for pinterest

    Delicious carrot halwa recipe – Indian carrot pudding prepared with carrots, milk, and ghee sweetened with sugar and sweet condensed milk! Check out how I make carrot halwa on the stove top with detailed step-wise pictures.

    gajar ka halwa served in blue bowl with some nuts and carrots on the side on a wooden tray

    Carrot halwa, popularly known as gajar ka halwa/ gajrela, is a classic Indian dessert quite popular in Northern India. Gajar means carrots in Hindi, and halwa is more like pudding, of course, without eggs. If you follow my blog, you will all know how much I like fruit- and vegetable-based desserts. I have already shared Instant Pot zucchini halwa, and now it’s time for some carrot halwa. 

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients required
    • Different ways to serve this carrot halwa
    • Dietary specifications
    • How to make carrot halwa
    • Recipe Notes
    • More carrot recipes 
    • 📖 Recipe

    Being a South Indian, carrot kosambari and carrot poriyal were common in our households, and honestly, I don’t remember relishing carrot halwa growing up. Like paneer dishes, I remember enjoying it first in restaurants here in the United States. Yes, this carrot halwa is quite popular on restaurant menus. 

    My love for carrots made me try this halwa, and here is my version. I am not claiming this recipe to be authentic or traditional North-Indian style, but I can assure you that it is delicious for sure. Give it a try, and let me know. 

    Ingredients required

    ingredients required for gajar halwa

    Carrots (red or orange) – While the traditional carrot halwa recipe calls for red carrots, you can use red or orange, whichever you can source. In New Jersey, during Jan/Feb, I get red carrots, which I have used for this recipe. But I have also tried this recipe with regular orange carrots. 

    Whole Milk: We cook carrots in whole milk, which adds amazing flavor. 

    Sugar and sweet condensed milk: I have used regular granulated sugar for this recipe, and to add rich flavor and texture, I have also used sweetened condensed milk. 

    Ghee: You cannot imagine Indian desserts without ghee. We need 1.5 to 2 tbsps of ghee, and I highly recommend not reducing it further. 

    Cashews: I love adding some roasted nuts to my halwa. I used some cashews, and towards the end, I garnished it with some slivered pistachios too. Skip for a nut-free version.

    Saffron and cardamom: I love the combination of saffron and cardamom. In Hindi, it’s the kesar(saffron) and elaichi(cardamom); they both add amazing flavor to this carrot halwa. You can add either one or both based on availability. 

    Different ways to serve this carrot halwa

    Carrot halwa is best when relished warm. Feel free to add some vanilla or Indian-flavor rajbhog ice cream on warm carrot halwa and enjoy! 

    If you like making dessert jars, you can use this carrot halwa as a base or one of the layers. You can use this carrot halwa instead of boondi in my baked boondi rabri recipe. Alternatively, you can layer this carrot halwa and my crumbled paneer ladoos for a stunning dessert jar. 

    slanted shot of gajar ka halwa served in blue bowl placed on wooden tray with a gray fabric on the side

    Dietary specifications

    This carrot halwa is a gluten-free dessert. Skip the nuts for a nut-free version. I am yet to experiment with the vegan version of carrot halwa. You can try it with plant-based milk and vegan ghee.

    So far, I have stored the carrot halwa for two days in the fridge. You can reheat the required portion before serving. This below measure serves three generously. 

    How to make carrot halwa

    • Heat the kadai or pan and add 1 tbsp of ghee. When it is hot, add the cashews and roast them until it turns light brown. Remove the cashews from the pan and set them aside.
    roasting the cashews
    • In the same pan, add the grated carrots. There should be some ghee left after roasting the cashews; if not, add ½ tbsp and then add the carrots.
    roasting the grated carrots in ghee
    • Roast the carrots for 3 to 4 minutes over medium-low heat. The color of the carrots will change, and it will ooze out some moisture, and that’s fine. 
    roasted and color changed carrots
    • Now add the milk and mix well.
    adding the milk to cook the carrots
    • Cover and cook the carrots for 7 to 8 minutes. Open the lid and stir the carrots every two to three minutes. 
    cooking the carrots covered
    • Now add the sugar and mix. Cook for two more minutes.
    adding the sugar
    • Then add the sweetened condensed milk, ground cardamom, and saffron. 
    adding condensed milk and flavors
    • The halwa will be slightly watery, and that’s fine. Add ½ tbsp of ghee and cook until the mixture thickens over medium-low heat. It took me 10 minutes, and I forgot to take the final step picture.
    adding more ghee and cooking the halwa
    • Finally, add the roasted cashews and enjoy warm. 
    overhead close up shot of carrot halwa served in blue bowl

    Recipe Notes

    • Make sure to cook the halwa over medium-low heat. On a number scale, I was adjusting between 3 and 4. Do not cook over high heat, and don’t rush the process. Slow cooking enhances the flavor.
    • You can soak the saffron strands in the milk instead of adding them directly.
    • Adjust the sugar and sweet condensed milk to taste. 
    • You can skip the condensed milk and add more sugar instead. 
    • I used my hand grater to grate the carrots, and I have tried grating it on the thicker and the thin side, and we loved the texture in both cases. For this recipe, I grated it on the thin side. 

    More carrot recipes 

    • Carrot Rice
    • Carrot Coin Dosai
    • Instant Pot Carrot Sauce Pasta
    • Vegan Carrot Kheer | Carrot Payasam

    PS: Follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group for more gardening and recipe updates. If you try this carrot halwa please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it asap.  Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas!

    📖 Recipe

    square image of carrot halwa served in blue bowl placed on wooden tray
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Carrot Halwa | Gajar Ka Halwa

    Delicious carrot halwa recipe – Indian carrot pudding prepared with carrots, milk, and ghee sweetened with sugar and sweet condensed milk!
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time35 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 235kcal
    Author: Srividhya G

    Ingredients

    Measurement Details: 1 cup = 240ml; 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp = 5ml;

    • 1.5 tbsp ghee you can add up to 2 tbsp
    • 10 cashews broken into small pieces
    • 200 grams carrots grated (approx 1.5 cups)
    • 3 tbsp whole milk you can add up to 4 tbsp
    • 4 tbsp sugar
    • 2 tbsp condensed milk
    • ¼ tsp ground cardamom
    • a pinch of saffron strands
    • slivered pistachios to garnish

    Instructions

    • Heat the kadai or pan and add 1 tbsp of ghee. When it is hot, add the cashews and roast them until it turns light brown. Remove the cashews from the pan and set them aside.
    • In the same pan, add the grated carrots. There should be some ghee left after roasting the cashews; if not, add ½ tbsp and then add the carrots.
    • Roast the carrots for 3 to 4 minutes over medium-low heat. The color of the carrots will change, and it will ooze out some moisture, and that’s fine.
    • Now add the milk and mix well.
    • Cover and cook the carrots for 7 to 8 minutes. Open the lid and stir the carrots every two to three minutes.
    • Now add the sugar and mix. Cook for two more minutes.
    • Then add the sweetened condensed milk, ground cardamom, and saffron.
    • The halwa will be slightly watery, and that’s fine. Add ½ tbsp of ghee and cook until the mixture thickens over medium-low heat. It took me 10 minutes, and I forgot to take the final step picture. Finally, add the roasted cashews and enjoy warm.

    Notes

    • Make sure to cook the halwa over medium-low heat. On a number scale, I was adjusting between 3 and 4. Do not cook over high heat, and don’t rush the process. Slow cooking enhances the flavor.
    • You can soak the saffron strands in the milk instead of adding them directly.
    • Adjust the sugar and sweet condensed milk to taste. 
    • You can skip the condensed milk and add more sugar instead. 
    • I used my hand grater to grate the carrots, and I have tried grating it on the thicker and the thin side, and we loved the texture in both cases. For this recipe, I grated it on the thin side. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 320mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 11197IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @vidhyasvegetariankitchen or tag #vidhyasvegkitchen
    For Video RecipesCheck out My YouTube Channel

    Update Notes: Earlier posted in 2016. Now updated the recipe with recipe card, detailed step-wise pictures.

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    Filed Under: Carrot, Holi, Sweets, Vegetables Tagged With: carrot halwa with sweet condensed milk, gaajar ka halwa, gajrela, how to prepare carrot halwa

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Radha says

      February 21, 2023 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      This is a tasty and perfect version. I am loving the color of this halwa and just crave for this right now. YUM!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 04, 2023 at 6:30 am

        Thank you

        Reply
    2. Radha says

      February 15, 2023 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is my favorite halwa from my childhood days. This is what we make often. Excellent pictures and a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 03, 2023 at 5:15 pm

        Thanks Radha.

        Reply
    3. Mullai Madavan says

      March 30, 2016 at 7:18 am

      Love the simple version of carrot halwa, good one Vidhya!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 30, 2016 at 12:44 pm

        Thanks a lot Mullai.

        Reply
    4. kushigalu says

      March 24, 2016 at 10:14 am

      Love your version. Looks so perfect and delicious!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 24, 2016 at 10:48 am

        :-) Thanks Kushi.

        Reply
    5. swapnakarthik says

      March 23, 2016 at 11:32 pm

      Oh this looks awesome,Vidya…

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 24, 2016 at 10:45 am

        Thanks Swapna.

        Reply
    6. Nish Kitchen says

      March 23, 2016 at 11:12 pm

      Oh yum… totally want to eat this halwa right now!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 24, 2016 at 10:40 am

        :-) :-) Thanks a lot. Wish could send you some.

        Reply
    7. Bharani says

      March 23, 2016 at 8:51 pm

      Delicious halwa …. Happy Holi to you and your family…

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 24, 2016 at 10:35 am

        Thanks Bharani and wish you the same. :-)

        Reply
    8. Sandhya says

      March 23, 2016 at 1:37 pm

      What a nice step by step recipe for yummy gajar halwa, Vidya! Love it!

      Reply
      • Srividhya G says

        March 24, 2016 at 10:35 am

        Thanks a lot Sandhya :-)

        Reply

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