Winter is almost synonymous with gajar ka halwa. In fact, many people wait for winter to come only to savour this mouth-watering Indian dessert, never mind the chilly wind and the biting cold.
The best thing about gajar ka halwa is that it can be made as rich as possible with oodles of desi ghee, khoya and nuts and as low calorie and nutritious as possible without sugar and khoya.
Be that as it may, the popular sweet dish has many health benefits due to all the nutritious ingredients. The main ones are carrots, milk and ghee.
Carrots are rich in antioxidants and are good for the eyes. The beta carotene in carrots gives it the red or orange colour, which is then converted to Vitamin A by the body. They are also full of Vitamin C and K besides being rich in fibre. They also help in promoting gut health and maintaining blood pressure levels.
Milk has protein, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B12, and D, potassium, calcium and magnesium. It improves bone density.
Despite the popular notion about ghee being fattening, the truth is that it is a super ingredient and is replete with amino acids and antioxidants. Ayurvedic texts recommend it to boost memory, slow down ageing and improve immunity.
As for the dry fruits in the halwa, such as cashew and raisin, they are also rich in antioxidants and proteins.
Try this simple recipe:
- Grate two kilos of carrot and put them in a large pan. Let the water evaporate.
- Add 1 to 2 litres of full cream milk and let the mixture simmer (you may add tinned condensed milk instead of fresh milk).
- Keep stirring for the natural sweetness of the carrots and milk to mix and wait for the milk to dry at which point you can add cardamoms to it for flavour.
- Add sugar, keep stirring.
- Add ghee and keep stirring till the ghee simmers at the ends of the pan.
- Add dry fruits.
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