Carrot Halwa
96+ India festival. This recipe was the one that impressed me the most, maybe also because I hadn't expected our ordinary carrot to be able to give such a taste :)
I've already managed to impress many people with it, everyone said 'Wow!' Now it's the season of new and healthy carrots, so you definitely must try it. It can be served as such or with a little vanilla ice cream, it will be even more delicious. As for the taste, you won't feel the classic taste of carrot. Carrot combined with butter, cardamom and sweet cream becomes something fabulous.
Nota bene. In the recipe, I used heavy cream. I tried to replace it with condensed milk (the very thick and very sweet one) but I still liked the cream version a bit more.
Peel and wash the carrots.
Grate the carrots in the food processor or using the smaller holes side of the grater.
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the cardamom and mix quickly.
Add the carrots right away. Mix. Cook over medium heat, stirring periodically until they have softened.
After about ten minutes, mix in the sugar and continue to cook until the carrots are soft and the juice has evaporated.
Pour in the sweet cream, stir well. Simmer for 10-15 minutes over low heat.
The mixture is done when it's soft and has no juice at all, it's a little drier, even.
Turn off the heat and set aside.
Prepare small containers to make individual portions of halva. You can use small cups, glasses, ice cream bowls etc.
I used one kg of carrots for this recipe, so I had double portion. See in the picture how many containers I filled.
Scoop the carrot mixture into the cups and allow to cool completely. Then, keep in the fridge for a few hours.
Sprinkle with some nuts over the top, they will enrich the taste and texture.
Take any nuts / hazelnuts you have in the house. Toast a little in the pan, then crush them in the food processor or with a rolling pin.
Serve the carrot halva cold, with nuts sprinkled on top or, in the more special version, with vanilla ice cream. It's delicious either way. You definitely must try.
Enjoy!
