It’s winter again and beautiful red carrot is in season now. When I saw carrots in market, suddenly a sharp craving and a sweet thought came into my mind of having Indian style carrot pudding which is popularly known as gajar halwa or carrot halwa. But this time, I decided to lower down the calorie level and make this halwa even more healthy. So this halwa is a lighter and healthier version of traditional gajar halwa recipe. In this recipe, grated carrots are cooked in milk with khajoor or dates and ghee is added at last making this halwa a creamy and glossy delight. By adding dates (khajoor), you are lowering the amount of white sugar you usually put in any gajar or carrot halwa. As dates are naturally super sweet dry fruit, by cooking it with carrots makes this halwa equally sweet as traditional gajar halwa.
Carrot is widely used in making of any good stock or broth or it is eaten as a salad. In India, it is used as vegetable in curries, sambar, stews, soups or in salads but the most popular dish from carrot is gajar hallwa. There are so many different recipes for gajar halwa or carrot halwa. Some people fry the carrot in lots of ghee and then add little amount of milk but in my verison, carrots are cooked in milk first, then ghee is drizzled later.
So, if you are also having a craving for gajar halwa, try my version of gajar khajoor halwa this time.
Health check :-Carrots are known for its rich content of vitamin A and carotenes. But they are also great source of several other vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, Vitamin B-6, thiamin, calcium, manganese, potassium, copper, phosphorus and fiber. Carrots are very low in calorie and has no fat and cholesterol. 1 medium carrot (61gm) contains about 25 calorie. They are considered as good for maintaining healthy eyes, teeth and gums. And when it comes to dates, they are also good source of vitamin A, vitamin K, B-vitamins, potassium, iron, manganese and dietary fiber. Dates or khajoor are very east to digest which allow your body to make full use of its nutrients. So combining carrots and dates together is a really great idea, especially when the resultant is this delicious and healthy gajar khajoor halwa.
If you love carrots, then try out these recipes too :-
- Carrot raisins salad
- Carrot raita
- Carrot paratha
- Carrot and ricotta cheese sandwich
- Baked fish and carrot in foil
Gajar Khajoor Halwa / Carrot Dates Halwa Recipe
Course: DessertCuisine: IndianDifficulty: Medium6
servings15
minutes35
minutesGajar khajoor halwa is a healthy carrot pudding with grated carrots, dates, cashews, milk and cardamon.
Ingredients
500 gms or 1 pound of carrots
15 dates, deseeded
1/2 ltr milk
2.5 Tbsp of ghee / clarified butter
1/4 cup of sugar
3 cardamom pods
1 Tbsp of cashews
Directions
- Peel and coarsely grate carrots with a grater and keep aside. Chop the dates into small pieces.
- Heat milk and when it comes to boil, add carrots and mix well.
- Cook until the milk is reduced to half over medium heat, then add dates and cook again for 10 minutes.
- Now add ghee, cashews and sugar and cook till all the milk is absorbed and the gajar halwa is thick and creamy.
- Pound the cardamom seeds and add it to the halwa. Gajar khajoor halwa is done and ready to serve.
Notes
- Gajar khajoor halwa can be served hot or cold.
