Carrot Halwa Blondie Bars Recipes

CARROT HALWA

Steps:

• Grate the carrots with the fine blade of your food processor or with a box grater.
• Melt the ghee in a stovetop pressure cooker over medium heat. Meanwhile, crush the cardamom pods in a mortar and pestle or with a heavy saucepan. Discard the papery pods and crush the seeds to a semi-fine powder. Add to the ghee and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Tumble the grated carrots into the scented ghee. Cook, stirring every now and then, until slightly deepened in color, about 3 minutes.
• Pour in the milk, sugar and a good pinch of salt. Stir and bring to a boil. Twist the lid in place and ensure it is sealed (refer to the manufacturer's guide for locking the lid). Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes. Follow the guide again for quick-release of pressure, then carefully open and stand back!
• Place over high heat again. Stir in the powdered milk and currants and cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. The halwa should have a puddinglike consistency. Sprinkle with the pistachios and serve either warm or cold.

CARROT HALWA BLONDIE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 11-by-15-inch baking tray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Sift together the flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl. Combine the carrots, raisins, sugar and condensed milk in a heatproof or glass bowl. Rinse out the condensed milk stuck to the sides of the can using the whole milk, and then add both to the carrots and mix well. Microwave the carrots until soft and have lost their raw texture and taste, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the melted butter, nutmeg and cardamom until well combined. (I prefer to add the spices after the carrots are cooked to ensure that the essential oils in the spices do not dissipate.)
• Pour the carrot mixture into the center of bowl with the flour. Fold in the carrots gently, working from the sides in towards the center, taking care not to over-mix (this can cause the gluten to bind together, resulting in a tough and leathery texture).
• Spread evenly onto the baking tray and sprinkle with the almonds. Bake until the top is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into squares and serving.

CARROT HALWA

Steps:

• Melt ghee in a saucepan over medium heat. Add carrots; cook and stir until soft, about 5 minutes. Add milk and bring to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium.
• Combine water and sugar in a bowl; stir to dissolve. Add to the saucepan with the carrots. Stir in raisins and cardamom. Cook and stir until raisins are plumped and mixture is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

CARROT HALWA (GAJAR HALWA)

Steps:

• Put the carrots, pierced cardamom pods and milk in a heavy-based pan and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hr, stirring frequently until the milk has evaporated.
• Heat the butter in a deep pan, and stir-fry the carrot mixture for about 15-20 mins until darkened in colour and it has lost its wet, milky appearance.
• Add the sugar, raisins and almonds or pistachios, and stir-fry the halwa for another 5 mins. Serve hot. Will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to six months.

CARROT HALWA (CARROT DESSERT)

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add carrots and milk; cook and stir until milk is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes. Add oil. Cook, stirring constantly, until carrots are softened and golden-orange, 7 to 10 minutes. Add sugar; cook and stir until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle cardamom on top.