This Independence Day, if you are looking for desserts to make that recreate the colours of the Indian national flag, you should definitely consider Gajar Halwa
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know about Gajar (Carrot) Halwa. This wonderful Indian dessert made of carrots has always been a staple at my home.
Traditionally, the dessert is made during the winter when the pink carrots enter the market. The pink carrots are sweeter and lend a distinctive flavour to the halwa. However, as any lover of Gajar Halwa will tell you, it is too much of an ask for anyone to wait three seasons just to taste it again!
It is August and I deliberately chose to make the halwa with orange carrots. I felt that an orange-coloured halwa is a sweet way to celebrate Indian Independence Day and honour the Indian national flag without using artificial colours.
Enjoy!
Gajar Halwa recipe
Serves 3
Ingredients:
500 grams carrot, peeled and grated
500 ml milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup ghee
25 cashews
4-5 cardamoms (elaichi), powdered
Method:
Heat ghee in a large pan. Fry cashews, remove and set aside.
In the same pan, sauté carrots for five minutes.
Add the milk and stir on a low flame until almost all the milk evaporates.
Add the sugar and elaichi powder. Mix well. Stir on low flame till all the liquid has evaporated.
Switch off the flame and mix in fried cashews.
Serve hot (though it tastes great cold too!).
“If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine. You get in touch with Mother Earth and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your roots, and that is meditation. If we chew every morsel of our food in that way we become grateful and when you are grateful, you are happy.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
The Vegetarians' Kitchen 