Feast with Safiya

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
×
Home All Recipes

Gajar Halwa Recipe | Carrot & Cardamom Pudding

Published: Oct 21, 2021 · Modified: Aug 23, 2024 by FeastwithSafiya · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

Spread the love
Recipe Card

Life is good with a bowl of warm Gajar ka Halwa aka Indian Carrot Pudding with slivered almonds any day! A dessert that's loved and adored by young and old in India. Sharing my easy version of Gajar ka Halwa recipe using my Ammi’s(mother) instructions. Includes low calorie InstantPot recipe.

Gajar ka halwa. Gajar halwa recipe.

What is Gajar Halwa?

Gajar Halwa is one of those desserts that everyone raves about in India. Truly loved and adored by many, star of weddings, family get togethers and parties. Halwa is basically, carrots cooked down in milk until incredibly tender, seasoned with freshly ground cardamom, sugar and ghee; garnished with blanched nuts and served warm. Eat it warm or cold, It will surely give you fuzzy feelings.

Jump to:
  • What is Gajar Halwa?
  • What's in this Carrot Pudding:
  • How to Cook Gajar Halwa?
  • Storing the Halwa
  • Cardamom Recipes
  • Kitchen Tools You’ll Need:
  • Gajar Halwa Recipe | Indian Carrot & Cardamom Pudding
  • InstantPot Gajar Halwa

Gajar Halwa Recipe

What's in this Carrot Pudding:

Just a handful of pantry ingredients and you are all set to prepare some amazing Indian dessert.

  • Carrots: small young and sweet carrots make great for gajar ka halwa. Pick the brightest and firm carrots without stringy roots popping at the tips.
  • Milk: I have used 2% fat milk for gajar halwa recipe. You may use whatever fat content you prefer for your milk. Almond or Coconut milk are great substitutes for vegan and lactose intolerance.
  • Ghee: traditional Indian desserts are made with clarified butter. Ghee is a staple fat for baking and cooking in India. It truly enhances the aroma of gajar ka halwa.
  • Cardamom: South Asians add cardamom pods and freshly ground cardamom in sweet and savory dishes. The sweet aroma of freshly ground cardamom is addictive.
  • Milk powder: I am using dried milk powder. Ricotta cheese or Condensed milk are great substitutes for milk powder.
  • Blanched nuts: Blanched almonds are my personal favorite in Gajar ka Halwa. You may add your favorite blanched or unsalted-roasted nuts and raisins for texture and crunch.
  • Saffron: Saffron is completely optional. However, if you have a few threads of saffron in your pantry then don't hesitate to add them in to the boiling milk and carrots. Saffron truly enhances the color and aroma of Gajar ka Halwa.

How to Cook Gajar Halwa?

  • Wash and peel the Carrots. Remove tip and top. Shred the carrots in a Food Processor or a shredder.
  • In a thick bottom pan, simmer milk, ghee, saffron, and shredded carrots on medium heat.
  • Continue stirring in between while the milk is simmering. Continue to cook until liquid is ¾ its original measure. It should take approximately 25-30 minutes.
  • Add sugar, ground cardamom, slivered almonds, and milk powder.
  • Stir well and continue to cook on low while stirring in between until the liquid completely evaporates.
  • Take the pan off of the stove. Garnish it with more slivered almonds.

Storing the Halwa

Gajar ka Halwa stays great in the refrigerator for up to 1 week and up to 2 months in the freezer.

  • To Refrigerate: Store the Halwa in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or in a sauce pan on low heat. Add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon milk for reheating if needed.
  • To Freeze: Use heavy duty Ziploc bags or a freezer friendly container to freeze the halwa. Defrost it over night in the refrigerator before reheating.

Cardamom Recipes

If you like the taste of Cardamom, try my sweet and savory recipes using cardamom.

  • Cardamom Infused Crepes
  • Mutton Biryani
  • Veg Dum Biryani

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need:

  1. Dutch Oven or a Heavy Bottom Pan
  2. Food Processor or a grater
  3. Good Kitchen Knife
  4. Airtight Container
Gajar Halwa Recipe

Gajar Halwa Recipe | Indian Carrot & Cardamom Pudding

Safiya
Gajar Halwa is loved and adored by young and old in India. Sharing my easy version of Gajar ka Halwa recipe using my Ammi’s (mother) instructions. Includes low calorie InstantPot recipe.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 55 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4
Calories 442 kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

  • 4 cups Organic shredded carrots about 18-20 small Carrots
  • 4 cups 2% milk
  • ½ cup Milk Powder
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground Cardamom
  • ¼ cup Ghee
  • 8 tablespoons organic Cane Sugar
  • ½ cup blanched slivered Almonds or your preferred nuts or raisins
  • ¼ teaspoon Saffron

Instructions 

  • Wash and peel the Carrots. Remove tip and top. Shred the carrots in a Food Processor or a shredder.
  • Grind about 6 green Cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle. Set it aside.
  • In a thick bottom pan, simmer milk, ghee, saffron, and shredded carrots on medium heat.
  • Continue stirring in between while the milk is simmering. Continue to cook until liquid is ¾ its original measure. It should take approximately 25-30 minutes.
  • Add sugar, ground cardamom, slivered almonds, and milk powder.
  • Stir well and continue to cook on low while stirring in between until the liquid completely evaporates.
  • Take the pan off of the stove. Garnish it with more slivered almonds.
  • Enjoy, you chef you!

Notes

InstantPot Gajar Halwa

You can make a healthier version of Gajar Halwa and also cut the cooking time in half in an InstantPot. Cut down the quantity of ghee, use sweetener of your choice and milk powder for a low calorie Gajar ka Halwa. 
  1. Combine 2 cups of milk and grated carrots in an InstantPot. Pressure cook on low heat setting for 6-8 minutes. Release the pressure. Reduce down any extra liquid on sauté setting. 
  2. Add ghee, ground cardamom, sugar, milk powder and saffron. Continue to cook on sauté setting until carrots are nicely coated in ghee and sugar. Crumple down any milk solids with the help of a silicon spatula.
  3. Garnish with blanched nuts. Serve it warm or cold. 

Nutrition Information

Calories: 442kcal

Nutrition information is sourced from a third-party application and should be considered as approximate figures for reference purposes only.

Tried this Recipe?Mention @feastwithsafiya on Instagram

This post may contain affiliate links

  • keema puff pastry headshot
    Keema Puff Pastry | Savory Meat Pastry
  • Salmon skewers on a platter
    Tandoori Salmon Skewers
  • " "
    30+ Easy Ramadan Recipes
  • Green, red, and brown food on a white platter
    Smashed Potato Chaat
  • Chicken, potatoes and red and green salad
    Indian Sheet Pan Chicken and Potatoes
  • oven baked mackerel with potatoes on a platter
    Oven Baked Mackerel with Red Pepper, Garlic and Potatoes
 
21
Shares
 21    

More All Recipes

  • Salmon tikka with rice and green and salad
    Salmon Tikka | Fish Tikka Recipe
  • Lemon and tomato slices, fish and yogurt in a bowl
    Fish Biryani Recipe | Boneless Fish Biryani
  • poached salmon in a creamy coconut lime Indian curry
    Salmon in Coconut Lime Indian Curry
  • Indian cauliflower dish with flatbread on a plate
    Aloo Matar Gobi | Cauliflower and Potato

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    December 30, 2021 at 3:40 pm

    5 stars
    Never thought I could like carrots so much!

    Reply
5 from 1 vote

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

feastwithsafiya

Hey there! I'm Safiya, the creator of Feast with Safiya. I wear many hats – I'm a mom, food photographer, and recipe developer. I'm thrilled you're here to learn about me and try out my recipes.

Learn More

Popular Recipes

  • Indian cucumber, onion and tomato salad
    Kachumber Salad-Cucumber Tomato Salad Recipe

  • Indian shrimp curry with turmeric rice in a bowl
    Easy Indian Shrimp Curry Recipe

Footer

Info

Home

Recipe Index

Contact

Shop

Copyright Policy

Privacy Policy

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

back to top

Copyright © 2025 Feast with Safiya. All Rights Reserved.

Website designed by Safiya

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.