Gajar Halwa ( Instant Pot method )
Easy and quick Gajar halwa recipe with no grating and no constant stirring required. Super simple and ready in 30 minutes.
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
For Mawa/Khoya
- 2 Cups Milk Powder
- 1+¼ Cup Double cream
For Halwa
- 1 Cup Full fat Milk
- ½ Cup heavy cream
- 1 Kg Carrots Peeled and cut in chunks
- ¼ cup ghee
- 1½+¼ cup sugar
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 pinch nutmeg powder
- 2 tbsp almonds sliced
- 2 tbsp raisins (kishmish)
- 1 cup mawa/khoya
Instructions
For Mawa/Khoya
- In a big microwave safe bowl, combine 2 cupa milk powder and 1 cup double cream and mix. If it looks dry add 1/4 cup cream more. Mix well
- Place it in microwave and heat for 1 minute . Take it out and mix nicely.
- Microwave again for 1 minute. Remove and mix nicely. Repeat the process 1 more time. If it looks wet repeat the process 1 more time.
- By now, the mixture will start forming clumps and it will have lost the moisture.
- Microwave for 30 seconds for 2-3 times until it starts sizzling , mixing well in between each time.
- It is ready when most of the moisture is gone and khoya has dry consistency . It will get dry as it cools . Keep it aside .
For Halwa
- First, peel the carrots and cut them in big chunks and slice them in half vertically . If the carrots have thick yellow center, remove it and discard.
- In the Instant pot, add chopped carrots, 1 cup milk, ½ cup heavy cream and 1½ cup sugar. Mix everything.
- Close the lid and pressure cook for 12 minutes. Make sure instant pot is in sealing. After 12 minutes press cancel and let the pressure release naturally for 2 minutes and then do a quick pressure release by moving the pressure valve from sealing to venting position.
- Open the lid and give everything a mix. The halwa will look very watery at this stage. Switch on the saute mode and mash the carrots with a potato masher. Keep mashing and stirring till the liquid is absorbed and the carrots are completely mashed.
- Once the liquid is absorbed, press cancel.
- Heat ¼ cup ghee in a wide non stick wok/kadhai. Fry sliced almonds and raisins(kishmish) for few seconds until almonds are golden. Next, add mashed carrots and mix in the ghee and nuts. Fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Add mawa and check if more sugar is required . Add ¼ cup sugar if required and at this stage you can add ½ tsp of red food color if your carrots are orange. This step is completely optional and it is just to give the halwa a traditional red color.
- Add 1/2 tsp of cardamom powder and a pinch of nutmeg. You can also add 1 tbsp ghee at this stage for richer flavor. Switch off the flame.
- Garnish with more nuts and serve warm.