DESSERT: Healthy and Easy Gajar Ka Halwa

Early in the evaporation phase

Note: Gajar Ka Halwa ("Sweet of Carrot") is a traditional Indian/Pakistani dessert - the standard recipe calls for ghee (clarified butter) and a ton of sugar - this recipe eliminates all the bad stuff so you can really taste the great ingredients.  The traditional method involves grinding the carrots and a series of complicated steps, which have also been eliminated in this recipe. 

Servings: 10-15

Ingredients:

Late in the evaporation phase

• 1/2 gallon non-fat or low-fat milk (substitute: soy milk)
• (2) 1 1lb bags of whole carrots, peeled and chopped into thirds
• 5 cardamom pods, peeled and ground finely (substitute: 1/4 tsp ground cardamom powder)
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/4 cup honey (substitute: agave or no sugar and use vanilla soy milk instead of regular milk)
• 1/2 cup almonds, cut into small pieces (with peels on)
• OPTIONAL ALTERNATIVE: peeled and cut into small pieces - you can easily remove the peels on almonds by placing them in boiling water for 5-10 minutes, removing them from heat, and then peeling them as soon as they are cool enough to be handled



Halwa is ready - milk has evaporated

• Saffron (optional)

Instructions

• Option 1
• Quickly grind carrots in a food processor (just so that they're in pieces)
• Place carrots into a large pot with milk
• Bring milk to a boil
• Once the milk comes to a boil. immediately bring it down to a simmer - now proceed with remaining steps
• Option 2
• Place carrots into a large pot with milk
• Bring milk to a boil
• Once the milk comes to a boil. immediately bring it down to a simmer
• Once the carrots are soft, use a potato smasher tool to mash the carrots
• Keep heating mixture until the milk evaporates entirely (this can take more than an hour)
• Add almonds once most of the milk evaporates
• Once the milk evaporates, add cardomom, cinnamon, and sweetener
• Keep the mixture over low heat until it becomes thick
• Add a pinch of saffron
• Enjoy!