Winter special – Gajar ka halwa – Recipe and Benefits
- December 16, 2021
- Posted by Dr. Vaidya Karanvir Singh
- 0 Comment(s)
Most of the Indians love sweets, their craving increases during the winter months as the body needs more energy to stay warm. Taking sugar gives a quick energy to our system. Gajar Ka Halwa is one of the popular dishes especially in North India. It is a carrot-based sweetened pudding dessert.
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About Gajar ka halwa
It is made by using fresh carrots, milk, sugar, ghee, milk, nuts. It is made by simmering grated carrots in full fat milk and then at the end sweetened with sugar. At last it is flavoured by cardamom and garnished with dry fruits like almonds or nuts.
Ingredients
- 1kg carrots
- 1½ lt. milk
- 7-8 cardamom
- 5-7 tbsp ghee
- 5-7 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp raisins
- 1 tbsp shredded almonds
How to make gajar ka halwa ?
- Peel and grate the carrots
- Simmer in the milk with the cardamom until liquid evaporates
- Heat some ghee in a pan and add the mixture of carrots in this.
- Cook these carrots over a gentle flame for 10-15 minutes
- Stir in sugar and continue cooking until the halwa cooks properly and gives deep reddish color
- Stir in dried fruit and serve.
Prepare this for special occasions as well as the perfect dessert for post dinner with family.
Goodness of Carrots
Carrots grow in the season of winter,that makes Gajar Ka Halwa an ideal sweet dish for this season. Carrots have great nutritious value and have number of health benefits. Carrots contains beta carotene that is useful in the production of Vitamin A . It is an antioxidant that boosts our immune system and fight against infections and inflammation.
Immunity-boosting Ingredients
Milk, cardamom and almond are used in the preparation of Gajar Ka Halwa. Cow or buffalo milk contains Vitamin D, probiotics and immunoglobulin, that strengthens our immune system and protects our body many kind of infections. Almond also increase immunity due to its Vitamin E content.
The cardamom which is added contains Vitamin C and has been effectively used to treat cough and cold. Carrots are also good source of vitamin C. A healthy immune system will help to prevent number of diseases. Taking additional vitamin C may boost the immune system’s function.
Maintain Good health
Most of the people tend to put on weight during winter by taking more food or calories to meet the body’s energy needs. Since carrots high fibrous content, that aids digestion. Consumption of carrots maintains cholesterol levels.
Improves Skin health
The dry and cold environment of winter drains our skin moisture and leads to dryness of skin. Most people depend upon on oils and to keep moisturisers to retain skin moisture. Carrots contain Vitamin A as beta carotene. As Vitamin A aids in the regular replacement of skin cells that maintains skin health.
Anti – Cancer Properties
Carrots contain anti-oxidants that help to reduce the risks of tumors and cancers because of their antioxidant properties.
Dr. Vaidya Karanvir Singh is the younger Vaidya in Chandigarh Ayurved & Panchakarma Centre. He is the fourth generation in his family who is practicing as a general consultant in Ayurved & Panchakarma treatment at Chandigarh. In his practice, he had treated more than 1 Lakh Plus patients worldwide.