Carrot Halwa Recipe

Gajar Ka Halwa with step by step pictures. Carrot halwa Recipe is a popular Indian sweet also known as carrot pudding made using carrots, sugar, ghee and fried nuts. Festive occasions like Diwali or any special occasions is not fulfilled without this wonderful sweet. Carrot halwa with khoya, milkmaid makes best tasting carrot halwa. This halwa taste amazing when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

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Carrot Halwa - Gajar Ka Halwa Recipe

Carrot halwa is one of the popular recipe around the world. It is one of the most searched Indian sweets on the internet. I am sure every one loves a good bowl of warm carrot halwa. Recently carrot halwa with vanilla ice cream has become a very popular dessert in every restaurants which is one of my favourite apart from jamun with ice cream.

Delicious halwa made using carrots simmered in milk and cooked in sugar. Carrot halwa with condensed milk is a very popular sweet all over india.

What is Gajar ka Halwa

Gajar means carrot. Gajar ka halwa is a combination of nuts, milk, sugar, khoya and ghee with grated carrot. Halwa made using carrots cooked in ghee and simmered in milk and cooked till halwa consistency. Indian carrot pudding made with freshly grated carrots. Halwa taste amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Carrot halwa recipe is a popular dessert all over India. This particular halwa is made using carrots, milkmaid which adds more richness to the halwa. You can make carrot halwa with sugar and skip the condensed milk too.

Every special occasions gets even special with this traditional carrot halwa. Some other popular sweets like Wheat Halwa, Custard Powder Halwa, Badam Halwa or this Cornflour Halwa can be tried too.

Watch Carrot Halwa Recipe Video

Carrot Halwa Ingredients

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The main ingredients for halwa are

• Carrots - you can use desi carrot or regular carrot. what ever you use grate it finely. somedays I grate it using large grater as well.
• Milk - use full fat milk for richer and tasty carrot halwa. 
• Ghee - always when making indian sweets try to get the pure desi ghee for best tasting halwa.
• Nuts - use mixture of nuts as you prefer. I usually use cashews, almonds, pistachios.
• Khoya - if you are using khoya then it is fine. you can use store bought khoya or hoemmade. check my khoya recipe.
• Condensed milk - this is entirely optional but adding milk maid makes it super rich and yummy.
• Sugar - of course you need a hefty amount of sugar to make this sweet. but you can adjust it totally to your taste.

Which Carrots to use for making Carrot Halwa

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Gajar ka halwa or gajar halwa is a type of Indian pudding which is very popular all over the world. Traditionally this halwa is made with the Indian red carrots also known as desi carrots.

These carrots are bright red in colour, slender and longer than regular carrots. Desi carrots are sweeter than regular carrots. But you can use whatever carrot you can find.

Carrot Halwa Preparation

Cooking Carrots

Heat ghee in a kadai. Now Add in grated carrot and saute. Pour in milk and mix well Simmer the flame and cover it with a lid. Let this cook for 15 mins until the carrot is cooked completely.

Mixing in sweetener

Add in sugar and mix well. Cook this whole thing for 10 mins till the mix leaves the sides. Add in cardamom powder as well. Let this cook until the halwa gets thickened.

Preparing garnish

Now heat some ghee. Fry mixed nuts till golden. Add in the nuts and mix well. Serve hot, warm or cold.

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Expert Tips

Carrots - Use fresh, tender carrots that are red in colour which provides natural sweetness and colour to your carrot halwa. Use thicker grates to shred your carrots if you want your halwa to have texture. Fine grate can be used for more pudding like carrot halwa.

Milk - Full fat milk results in richer and milky tasting carrot halwa. For lighter option, You can use 2% milk for better taste. Almond milk, coconut milk can be used for vegan option. 

Ghee - Desi ghee which provides the nutty caramel aroma to every Indian sweets, use generous amount of ghee for richer taste. For lighter option, you can reduce ghee quantity too. 

Khoya - Homemade khoya or mawa is preferred. But store bought can be used. Grate your khoya or mawa. 

Patience & Time - Never make carrot halwa if you are in a hurry. Carrot halwa needs some love, time and patience. Take your time, you need constant stirring, but in the end everything is worth it. 

How to Make Carrot Halwa (Stepwise Pictures)

This traditional carrot halwa recipe is made with carrots, ghee, sugar, milk, nuts and dried fruits. I like to add some milkmaid (sweetened condensed milk) for rich taste. Learn how to make the perfect healthy carrot halwa with step by step pictures and guide.

Grating Carrots

1)You can use regular carrots or desi carrots for making carrot halwa. First step is to peel the carrots and grate them. You can use box grater or food processor to grate. I prefer using food processor to make my life easier.

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Frying Nuts & Dried Fruits

2)Heat ghee in a pot. Add just 1 to 2 tbsp of ghee. This ghee is for frying dried fruits and nuts, and sauteing grated carrots.

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3) Add in cashews in the ghee. You can add additional nuts like almonds, pistachios in carrot halwa.

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4)Once the cashews gets light golden brown. Add in golden raisins | sultanas. If you add raisins along with cashews, it might get burnt.

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5)Strain the fried dried fruits and nuts using a slotted spoon and set aside.

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Cooking the carrots

6)Once you remove dried fruits, add in grated carrots and saute for 5 to 6 minutes till raw smell leaves from the carrot.

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7)Pour in milk. For tastier carrot halwa, you have to cook the carrots completely in milk.

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8)Cover the pot with lid and cook on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes till carrot is completely cooked through and milk has reduced.

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9)Now the carrot is cooked completely and reduced.

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10)Add in sugar. You can adjust the sugar quantity as per your taste.

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11)Mix the sugar into the halwa. The sugar will melt down and mix into the halwa.

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12)Now add ghee little at a time and cook till halwa starts to thickens.

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13)Now add in milkmaid and mix well. Instead of milkmaid you can use khoya too.

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14)The carrot halwa is cooked once ghee starts to leave the sides of the pan.

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15)Add in fried nuts, dried fruits and cardamom powder. Mix well.

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16)Carrot halwa is done.

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17)You can serve carrot halwa with vanilla ice cream.

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Gajar ka Halwa with Khoya

I added ½ cup of my Homemade Khoya| Mawa in carrot halwa. Khoya adds richness and milky taste to gajar ka halwa. It is traditional way to make carrot halwa and results in halwai style carrot halwa.

Ingredients used for gajar halwa with khoya

• ½ cup Ghee
• 3 tbsp Cashews
• 3 tbsp Golden Raisins (kishmish | sultanas)
• 3 large Desi Carrots grated finely
• 3 cups Milk (750 ml)
• ½ cup Khoya | Mawa
• ½ cup Sugar
• ½ tsp Cardamom powder

1)In this version of carrot halwa. I used desi carrots.

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2)grate your carrots.

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3)heat ghee in a kadai.

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4)Add in grated carrots.

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6)Saute for 4 to 5 mins till the raw smell leaves and the carrot changes colour.

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7)Pour in milk. Add enough milk to cover the carrot.

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8)Cook the grated carrots in milk till it is cooked completely.

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9)Now the carrot is cooked completely.

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10)It will look thickened once cooked.

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11)Add in sugar.

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12)Add in khoya. Mix it well and cook till the halwa thickens.

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13)Add in ground cardamom powder.

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14)Now the halwa is thickened like a pudding.

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15)heat ghee in a frying pan, fry some dried fruits and nuts.

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16)Pour the fried nuts and dried fruits along with the ghee.

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17)Mix well. Carrot halwa is ready to serve.

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18)Once warm, you can serve.

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20)Serve warm.

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Instant Pot Carrot Halwa

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Instant pot is widely used in the recent days. And making carrot halwa in instant pot is possible. It is pretty easy as well. This is how you make a tasty healthy carrot halwa in instant pot. Follow same recipe measurements as mentioned in the recipe card.

• Set your instant pot to saute mode.
• Add ghee and let it heat. Once the ghee is hot add carrots and saute for 5 mins.
• Add milk and mix well.
• Now cover the instant pot with a lid. cook for 15 mins.
• Once the carrot is cooked, add in sugar, khoya and condensed milk if using.
• Saute this for at least 10 mins so it gets thick.
• Slowly add little ghee and fried nuts and mix well.
• Once the mixture gets in halwa consistency, serve.

Pressure Cooker Carrot Halwa

Making carrot halwa in pressure cooker is very healthy. Cooking in pressure cooker consumes very less ghee when compared to other method. Follow same recipe measurements as mentioned in the recipe card.

• heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pressure cooker. add in grated carrots and mix for 2 mins.
• add in milk and sugar to the pressure cooker.  mix well till sugar is mixed completely.
• cover the pressure cooker and let it cook for 3 whistle.
• let the pressure escape by itself.
• open the cooker, mix well.
• add in fried nuts and more ghee if using.
• mix once and serve.

Vegan Carrot Halwa

Replace regular milk with almond milk and ghee with vegan butter can easily tranform this traditional carrot halwa to vegan version. Instead of almond milk, coconut milk can be used.

Gajar ka halwa with Milk powder

¼ cup of milk powder added to carrot halwa enhances the flavour and gives the thick pudding texture to the halwa.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gajar Ka Halwa Healthy?

When compared to other indian sweets gajar has much more nutrients and less fat. It totally depends on how much ghee or sugar you are using in your halwa. Be conscious and adjust it accordingly to make carrot halwa a healthy dessert.

When is Carrot halwa served?

At festival time many people prefer vegetarian dishes as well as desserts in their Thali. Gajar ka halwa is a popular dessert all over India and often served at most festivals. The dish is popular among adults as well as children. 

When was carrot halwa invented?

The gajar ka halwa was first introduced during the Mughal period. Gajar ka halwa (meaning pudding of carrot or Halwa of carrot). It is very popular across the world, but it is more of a punjabi dessert.

How is carrot halwa made?

Gajar ka halwa originally contained carrots, milk and ghee but nowadays includes many other ingredients like khoya and condensed milk. Combination of cream, condensed milk and khoya i carrot halwa gives the pudding a milky mava flavor.

More Halwa Recipes to Try

📖 Recipe Card

If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.

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