Sweet Memories with Gaajar ka Halwa

Well, halwa itself comes in wide varieties, like semolina halwa, gram flour halwa, and bottle gourd halwa. Halwa is such a sweet dish that can be easily prepared at home, and each type of halwa has its own delightful taste, which makes your mouth water just by hearing its name. But when it comes to gaajar halwa (carrot pudding), nothing compares.

Carrots are available throughout the year, and as far as I know, carrots come in many colours, like orange, purple, black, and yellow. And there is also a red variety, which is especially available here during the winter season. These red carrots are specifically used to make halwa. Yes indeed, winter has begun here, and in this season, making carrot halwa has become a tradition in every household; without it, the start of winter just doesn’t feel complete.

This carrot halwa also carries many beautiful and sweet memories with it. I remember from my childhood that all of us siblings used to help our mother in making carrot halwa, because it required quite a bit of effort to prepare. At that time, there was no food processor to grate the carrots, so we used to grate all the carrots by hand using a manual grater.

In a large wok, pure ghee was added, and the grated carrots were cooked thoroughly. Then milk and sugar were added and cooked together. And then the carrot halwa would be made—and not in small amounts, but in such large quantities that it could be enjoyed for at least two days… ha…ha…ha. It was usually prepared on holidays so that every family member could sit together and relish this lovely, sweet, beautiful, and flavour-packed carrot halwa.

During winter, a small fire would be lit, and the whole family would sit around it, warming themselves while eating carrot halwa and sharing endless conversations. Such was the sweet memory of my childhood, tied to carrot halwa.

Today I made carrot halwa just like before. As soon as winter began, the children requested, “Mumma, the season of carrot halwa has arrived; we want to eat it!” So I started preparing it. For this, I used the following ingredients:

1- Carrots – 2 kg,

2- Ghee (clarified butter) – ½ cup,

3- Sugar – 2 cups,

4- Saffron strands – 5 to 6,

5- Milk – ½ litre,

6- Cardamom powder – 1 tbsp

and some finely chopped nuts.

Recipe

1- First, I grated the carrots.

2- Then I heated the wok thoroughly on the stove.

3- This time, I added only 1 tablespoon of ghee to it and a few strands of saffron.

4- Once it was slightly hot, I added the grated carrots and cooked them gently on a low flame.

5- After that, I gradually added milk and continued cooking on low flame. As the milk thickened, the grated carrots were fully cooked.

6- Next, I added sugar along with the remaining saffron strands (the saffron strands enhance the colour of the halwa). The sugar blended completely with the mixture, and the halwa was cooked well.

7- In a separate pan, I heated the remaining ghee, lightly roasted the chopped nuts, and then added them along with the ghee into the carrot halwa. I mixed everything thoroughly, sprinkled a little cardamom powder, and now our lovely, beautiful, sweet, and delicious carrot halwa is ready to eat.

So, as winter began, I made gajar ka halwa at the children’s request, and everyone really enjoyed it. The way I prepared it—I’m not saying my recipe is perfect—but it turned out really well. Of course, everyone has their own way of making gaajar ka halwa; some call it gajrela or gaajar paak, while others call it gaajar ka halwa. Whatever the name, gaajar ka halwa is perfect in itself, and the taste becomes even more delightful when it’s made with lots of love.

Today, I couldn’t take a picture while making it, but after it was prepared, I took a photo of the gajar ka halwa, which I am sharing now.

As for me, my children weren’t satisfied with just one serving of gaajar ka halwa. With winter break, Christmas, and New Year celebrations coming up, they’ve already requested that this be the only dessert I prepare. Ha ha! And I, too, have decided to take a little break from my strict diet schedule, because gaajar ka halwa is one of those dishes you simply cannot resist.

Essence

Every year, during the winter season, gaajar ka halwa is made in almost every household. This homemade sweet dish makes the chilly days feel truly perfect. Its sweetness goes beyond taste—it becomes a memory, just like my childhood recollections that are steeped in the flavour of this halwa. Do you have any memories connected to your favourite dish? Please share them.

Dear Readers,

Sometimes, sweet memories also serve as healthy nourishment, which is essential for both the mind and the body.

Thank you for reading.

~Preeti 😊