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Carrot halwa recipe | Gajar ka halwa recipe | North Indian carrot halwa

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Carrot halwa recipe – popularly known as gajar ka halwa makes its presence in most special occasions like festivals, celebrations and parties. It is one of the classic Indian sweets that would not fail to impress anyone. There are a few different ways of making carrot halwa – a traditional method using whole milk, a rich version using khoya and then a quick method using condensed milk.
carrot halwa
You can also check the recipe of gajar ka halwa using condensed milk.

I am sharing the other 2 methods here. But with step by step pictures on the traditional method, the way it is made in North Indian Cuisine. Gajar ka halwa is usually made in north Indian homes during winters when fresh Carrot i.e delhi gajar is in season.

However you can use any variety of carrots that are available. But make sure you use young tender gajar which lends a sweet aroma and yield a soft mouth melting halwa.

For more halwa recipes, you can check
Suji halwa
Jaggery Moong dal halwa
Moong dal halwa
Banana sheera

Carrot halwa recipe below

carrot halwa

Carrot halwa recipe | Gajar ka halwa recipe | North Indian carrot halwa

Gajar halwa or carrot halwa is a classic sweet dish from Indian cuisine made with carrots, sugar and milk. It is flavored with cardamom powder.

Print
Course Dessert
Cuisine North Indian
Keyword authentic, easy
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 319 kcal
Author Swasthi

Ingredients (240 ml cup used)

Ingredients for carrot halwa

  • ½ kg carrot or gajar
  • ½ liter milk (or 2 cups) full fat
  • ½ cup sugar ( ½ cup + 2 tbsp) (prefer organic)
  • 4 cardamom pods or elachi or (skinned and powdered)
  • 2 tbsps ghee or clarified butter

optional ingredients for gajar halwa

  • ¼ to ½ cup khoya or mawa (optional)
  • Handful mixed nuts pista, cashew & almonds

How to make the recipe

Preparation for carrot halwa recipe

  1. Choose tender or young carrots that are fresh.

  2. Wash carrots under running water. Peel them and grate in a food processor or with a hand grater. Set this aside.

  3. Dry roast nuts on a low heat until crunchy.  You can also chop them first and fry  in ghee if you prefer.

  4. Set aside to cool and chop them.

  5. Next bring milk to a boil in a heavy bottom pot or deep pan. 

How to make carrot halwa

  1. Add grated carrots and begin to stir. 

  2. Cook until the milk has completely evaporated. Keep stirring constsntly in between to prevent burning.

  3. Add sugar and stir. Sugar would release lot of moisture. 
  4. Cook until half the moisture evaporates. 
  5. Add ghee and stir well.

  6. Continue to cook until the moisture evaporates and the halwa thickens. If you like you can add grated khoya at this stage. Stir and cook for just 2 to 3 mins.

  7. Garnish carrot halwa with nuts. Serve Warm or chilled.

Method 2 - Gajar ka halwa using khoya.

  1. For ½ kg carrot, we will use only about 1 cup milk. Then ½ cup grated khoya or mawa.  ½ cup + 2 tbsp sugar. Follow the same method mentioned in the step by step pictures.

Nutrition Facts
Carrot halwa recipe | Gajar ka halwa recipe | North Indian carrot halwa
Amount Per Serving
Calories 319 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 14g 22%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 141mg 6%
Potassium 594mg 17%
Total Carbohydrates 44g 15%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 37g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin A 421.7%
Vitamin C 8.9%
Calcium 18.6%
Iron 3.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

carrot halwa

Preparation for carrot halwa recipe – step by step photos

1. Wash carrots thoroughly under running water. Peel and grate them. A food processor quickens the process of grating. So if you own one, you can use it.
2. Make sure you use a heavy bottom large pot or pan for this recipe as it helps to prevent the halwa from sticking to the bottom and burning. However a pressure cooker too works well.

On a low heat dry roast nuts until crunchy for garnishing. A few pistachios, cashews and almonds would do great. You can also fry them in ghee. But dry roasting eases the chopping work. Cool and chop them.
dry roasting nuts for gajar ka halwa recipe
3. Next to the same pan, pour milk and begin to heat it.
boil milk for gajar ka halwa recipe

How to make carrot halwa recipe

4. Add grated carrots.
addition of gajar for carrot halwa
5. Stir and cook on a medium flame. Keep stirring to prevent burning at the bottom. Since I used a heavy bottom pan, I didn’t have to stir very often. But I suggest consistently keep checking otherwise the halwa will stick at the bottom.
simmer carrot to make gajar ka halwa
6. You will have be cautious always towards the end. Especially when the milk has almost evaporated.
stir cooking to make carrot halwa
7. Cook until the milk completely evaporates.
cook till milk evaporates for carrot halwa recipe
8. Next add sugar and stir.
addition of sugar for carrot halwa
9. Sugar melts and carrot halwa turns gooey once again. Stir and cook. When the moisture is half evaporated, add ghee and stir well.
gooey gajar ka halwa mixture
10. Stir and cook until the halwa thickens. Just before you finish off, add cardamom powder.
addition of cardamom for carrot halwa recipe
Finally garnish carrot halwa with nuts. Serve chilled or warm.
gajar ka halwa

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Comments

  2. Tried today it was delicious , my husband n kid liked so much. Thank u very much for ur woderful recipes. Will u plz share palathalikalu recipe if possible in simple way

    Reply

  3. I tried the recipe & it turned out really delicious. The only change I made was reducing the sugar quantity (otherwise it would have been too sweet for my taste). Thank you for this recipe 🙂

    Reply

  4. Hi Whenever I want to try new recipes. I search it in ua blog. Ua recipes are simple and delicious. I recommend my friends also ua blog. Even they loved ua recipe. Keep going. Thank you wonderful recipes

    Reply

  5. Hi akka
    Hope u n family are doing very well.
    I went to India. I’m back now.
    I tried beetroot halwa. It’s pretty simple and delicious. Can I prepare gajar the same way?

    Reply

  6. I made the carrot halwa for a holiday brunch with my family and it was definitely a crowd pleaser. Thank you for sharing the recipe.

    I spent some time in India on an extended business trip and I’m excited to see so many of my favorite dishes here. Planning to try more.

    Reply

      • Hi Swasthi,
        How are you doing? I made this carrot halwa and your pista ice cream. Such a great combo and everyone must try it. The carrot halwa turned out superb and the ice cream too. Thanks for the good recipes. God bless

        Reply

        • Hi Ananya,
          I am good. Thanks for asking. So glad to know the halwa and ice cream turned out good. Loved your idea of carrot halwa and pista ice cream. Never thought of pista ice cream with the halwa. Thanks a lot for the comment
          🙂

          Reply

  11. All your recipes are so good that I try without referring any other recipe. Made this from scratch for a party along with your veg dum biryani raita masala vada and all turned out great. Thanks a lot.

    Reply