A history with a big chemistry.... You ask how and WHAT??!!!...
We're talking about the famous traditional Indian dessert known as- 'Gajar ka Halwa'..Carrot delight...!
Tasty, sweet, hot and tingling in one's mouth, the minute we cook it at home, becomes history within minutes... It's so delicious that you just can't stop wanting more...
It takes time to cook though, various steps, manners, different ingredients involved it really does seem as though you're in between a chemical reaction!
The Secret Recipe:-Ingredients3/4 cup ghee , melted
1 kg carrots , peeled and grated
1 1/2 cans evaporated milk
2 cups sugar
100 g khoya
15 almonds , soaked in hot water,peeled and slivered
1/4 cup water
1 pinch saffron , soaked in the water
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
to taste edible silver foil , for garnishing (optional)
Directions1 Grate khoya and keep aside.
2 Combine carrots and milk in a large heavy based pan.
3 Bring to a boil.
4 Lower the heat and cook the carrots, stirring constantly, until all the milk dries up.
5 Pour ghee into the carrots.
6 Add khoya.
7 Saute for a few minutes.
8 Add sugar.
9 Continue to cook and stir the carrot mixture till it dries.
10 Remove from heat when still moist.
11 Stir in the saffron, cardamom powder and almonds, reserving a few for garnish along with silver foil.
12 Reheat carrot halwa just before serving with a little milk.
13 If not serving immediately, refrigerate carrot halwa and re-heat and serve when desired.
14 Handy hint: If u dont have khoya, use 1 cup whole milk powder mixed with 1 tsp ghee and 1-2 tbsp water to get a dough like consistency.
15This makes 100gms of khoya.
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Making Gajar ka Halwa is something which is really good.. It feels good you know!
I mean... Take a cold and chilly day.. Everyone's freezing, teeth chattering with the immense drop in temperature.. Now you suddenly come up, your cheeks flushed and your aura filled with warmth and excitement... Pulling out an apron you get set to make an incredibly yummy! filled dish a.k.a- Gajar Ka Halwa!
There was this time when I clearly remember me and my entire family were snuggled up in bed trying to not get frozen... Putting on the television I flicked the channels landing on an animation channel which was displaying cartoons of 'Bugs Bunny'... Munching his carrots like always and starting his introduction with "What's up doc?" I nearly fell from my bed on seeing such a funny cartoon.. Anyone would..
It was then when my mom suggested on making some Gajar Ka Halwa ... The carrots of coarse gave her the idea.. After consecutive hours she finally returned with huge bowls filled with the scrumptious dish... BOY THAT WAS GOOD!- My brother commented after finishing his halwa... Well you can guess what happened!..
My dad who happens to be crazy about the halwa would quietly sneak up and everyday..or night maybe and would eat up all the leftover halwa not even leaving some for any of us.. U can just as well imagine how good it is!..
