Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (2024)

During winters, Indian Gajar Halwa is one winter comfort food that probably is favorite of everyone old or young alike! I don't think you will find any Indian who has not tasted Carrot Halwa.

Also know as Gajarela (carrots are called Gajar in Hindi, hence Gajar-ela) in some parts of country. Traditionally, carrots are slowly cooked in lots of milk and sugar until milk has reduced to about one-third of it's original quantity. Carrots are soft and creamy, coated in slowly condensed (natural) sweetened milk.... Every bite just melts in mouth. These days, many make carrot halwa with less milk and more condensed milk. So, you guessed it!! less perching, on pot full of carrots, in front of stove and more flavor, almost like Halwa cooked by expert chef, low and slow!

This morning, I shared my traditionalCarrot Halwa recipe on Google Plus and then nostalgia hit me. All-of-sudden, I wanted to eat some Gajarela! I anyways wanted to make something little sweet for New Year Eve. Carrot Halwa sounded like a perfect idea!

Being time pressed, I knew, I need some condensed milk to do the hard work for me.When I opened pantry, I had just a few carrots and only a little condensed milk to pull off the quicker version of halwa. Alright! I told myself. I'm still making Halwa. That's spirit! Right?

So, I made Carrot Halwa, but.... with a twist! So as to share some new way to eat this yummy Indian Sweet with all of you! In form of these, handy, bite-size, Carrot-halwa and coconut ladoos!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (1)

These carrot halwa ladoos are easy to make, ready in far less time, are not overly sweet, have ton of flavor, are great way to portion control!

Why should you make these ladoos?

1. First, they taste scrumptious! comforting and yummy!
2. Are great for portion controls, just 1-2 instead of a bowl full of carrot halwa!!
3. These ladoos are lite sweet, and have good serving of carrots with anti-oxidants from cranberries.
4. Great way to feed kids some veggies!!
5. Good treat to carry on the go or for holiday gifting!
6. Perfect for a potluck party!

Let's not waste anymore time! Let's get cooking!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (2)

It all starts with peeling a bunch of beautiful orange carrots! I had just 3 and half. So please excuse me for the weird measurement!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (3)

Get the cooking started with peeling the carrots, let's ready'em for some grating.

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (4)

You can't make this step happened without a good grater. Turns out my food processor grater is totally use-less. Hand grater rocks! Just remember to leave these little pinkies alone, but only if you want your finger intact. Trust me! It's better to eat these little ones rather than being greedy and grating to the end! A little more grates your fingers first ;)

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (5)

And it was exactly 2 cups! thank God!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (6)

Start with melting 1 tbsp butter in the pan. You can also use ghee (clarified butter if you don't have butter.)

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (7)

When butter has melted, add cardamom and fennel powder and cook for 30 secs to 1 minutes.

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (8)

Dump in grated carrots and cook stirring often until carrots are soft in their own water. (about 5 minutes)

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (9)

Clear bottom is clear sign of good cooked carrots!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (10)

Add in milk and sugar! Just whole milk, not condensed milk yet!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (11)

After 8-10 minutes, on medium heat, milk will be all absorbed leaving behind soft carrots. Not mushy, just soft!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (12)

Now, it's time to add real nector of Gods! The time-saver condensed milk. Not a lot of it, just 100 grams, say 4 tbsp (1/4 of a cup) and dried shredded coconut.

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (13)

In just 3-4 minutes, condensed milk will be all absorbed by carrots leaving behind creamy yummy goodness!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (14)

Now mix in cranberries. If you can't find cranberries, use raisins or chopped dried fruits are okay too! I use cranberries to add some tartness to sweet carrot halwa ladoos. At this point remove pan from heat and set aside to cool slightly for 5 minutes.

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (15)

And finally the fun part! Roll the ladoos just like you roll truffles. I prefer to make equal portions first, drop in coconut , then roll all at once. To take this picture, I did this step in two batches.

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (16)

Gorgeous looking, Carrot Halwa and Coconut Ladoos are ready! Keep'em in refrigerator for a while, just to firm'em a little bit or just devour immediately! They taste delicious any way you eat'em!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (17)

Gorgeous looking, Carrot Halwa and Coconut Ladoos. Melt-in-mouth good!

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (18)

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (19)

Indian Gajar Halwa Ladoo - Sweet Carrot and Coconut Truffles Recipe | ChefDeHome.com (2024)

FAQs

Why Gajar Ka Halwa is so tasty? ›

Sugar is added in the end to enhance the taste, a glug of ghee and cardamoms for fragrance and the much needed warmth during the cold season. Made with fresh red carrots that are only available during winters in India, gajar halwa is an emotion for many like me.

How long does Gajar Halwa last in the fridge? ›

Store carrot halwa in the refrigerator for 10 to 12 days. Do not keep it at room temperature as it will get spoiled. You can even freeze carrot halwa for about a month.

What is carrot halwa made of? ›

Recipe and ingredients

Gajar ka halwa originally contained carrots, milk and ghee but nowadays includes many other ingredients like mava (khoya). The main ingredients of gajar ka halwa are freshly grated carrots, milk, sugar, cardamom, khoya, and ghee.

How do you preserve Gajar halwa? ›

Gajar ka halwa should be kept in an airtight container and inside the refrigerator. Avoid opening the box again and again; instead, open it only when you have to eat the halwa. Not even by mistake, i.e. never keep the box of gajar halwa outside the fridge as this can spoil it.

How to fix sweetness in gajar halwa? ›

add a pinch of salt. mix well. Increase the proportion of other ingredients like milk and ghee. This can help to balance out the sweetness and create a more complex flavor.

Why gajar ka halwa turned black? ›

Why did my gajar ka halwa turn black? Never fry the carrots in ghee. It might turn their color and make the halwa black. Always add carrots and milk to the pan and cook until the milk is absorbed.

Is carrot halwa good or bad for you? ›

Gajar Ka Halwa contains all the nutrients that are excellent sources of Vitamin A, C and K. In addition to that it also contains healthy fats and is also a rich source of fibre and antioxidants. New Delhi: When it comes to winter, nothing beats a bowl of steaming hot gajar ka halwa loaded with ghee.

Can we eat carrot halwa daily? ›

According to numerous health experts, carrot halwa is excessively beneficial for eye health. Carrots are rich in vitamins A, and C and fibres which are advantageous for vision, good skin, immune system. It is also a great source of antioxidants that are said to have anti-cancer properties.

What is halwa called in English? ›

Meaning of Halwa

The Arabic word “Halawa” (حلاوة) means 'sweetness,' while “halwa” (حلوى) means 'sweets' or 'candy. ' The Hebrew word “halva” actually means “sweet” or “dessert.” There is no equivalent of halwa or sooji halwa in English. The closest dish would be pudding.

Is halwa indian or pakistani? ›

Sooji (or Suji) ka Halwa is a Pakistani and Indian dessert made with semolina, ghee/butter, and sugar. This is the simple, classic recipe for this already easy dessert.

Can diabetics eat carrot halwa? ›

Gajar ka Halwa is one of the popular desserts, and is prepared in most homes during winters. Diabetic people are often told to stay away from the sweet dish to control their blood sugar levels. But even people with diabetes can enjoy this Indian pudding.

Why is my Gajar halwa dry? ›

What to do if Gajar ka Halwa is dry? In the above Gajar ka Halwa recipe, be sure to incorporate the exact quantities of MILKMAID, ghee, and milk. If your halwa happens to be a tad dry, slowly introduce warm milk or ghee while stirring consistently.

Why is my Gajar halwa sticky? ›

If you want it even much creamier and milky, add in more milk. Always add sugar towards the end ( and this rule goes for most of the sweets) else the halwa will be all sticky and chewy. Never cook for too long after adding sugar, too.

Why is my halwa watery? ›

Adding the sugar syrup

It'll be hot so be careful of the steam and splashes. Stirring helps to prevent lumps in the halwa. You'll find a watery mix where sooji particles are settling down if not stirred. The stirring can be in intervals now but you can still not leave this unattended.

Does carrot halwa need to be refrigerated? ›

Once the liquid evaporates, remove from the heat and transfer to a serving dish. Garnish with the chopped nuts. Serve warm or at room temperature. This halwa will be good for up to a week if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, but it won't last that long.

How does Gajar Halwa taste? ›

Gajar ka Halwa also known as Gajrela in Punjabi is one of my all-time favorite Indian desserts. Although I'm not a big fan of carrots, Gajar ka Halwa is just something else. It has a mild sweetness and the combination of flavors is simply mindblowing.

What does gajar ka halwa taste like? ›

What does Gajar Halwa taste like? Gajar halwa tastes heavenly and has a blended aroma of milk, carrots and dry fruits. You would love how the warm halwa melts in your mouth and blasts different flavours to satisfy your taste buds. Its amazing taste makes it one of the popular Indian desserts.

Why do carrots taste so good? ›

Flavour Compounds Found in Carrots

Carrots are a unique vegetable because they seem to have a taste which battles sweetness and harshness. The sweetness of carrots comes from the presence of multiple sugars such as glucose, fructose and sucrose.

What makes carrots more tasty? ›

Seasoning carrots is a great way to help bring out their flavor. For a simple and versatile seasoning, stick with salt, pepper, and garlic. For an herbier taste, add rosemary, parsley, cumin, or coriander. Or, to bring out their fresh, woody flavor, add some anise.

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