
Gajar halwa, a traditional North Indian dessert, is made by simmering grated carrots with milk, sugar, and ghee. Khoya, or dried milk, is a common ingredient in this dessert, but it can be substituted with paneer or cottage cheese. This substitution adds a unique taste to the dish and is perfect for those who are lactose intolerant. The recipe also includes cardamom powder, nuts, and raisins, resulting in a mouthwatering dessert that can be served warm or chilled.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can we substitute paneer in gajar halwa instead of khoya? | Yes, it is possible to substitute paneer or cottage cheese for khoya in gajar halwa. |
| Taste | The addition of paneer gives a different taste to the dish, which some people may prefer. |
| Texture | Gajar halwa made with paneer may have a different texture compared to traditional recipes. |
| Nutritional value | Substituting paneer for khoya may alter the nutritional profile of the dish, including the protein and calorie content. |
| Availability of ingredients | Paneer may be more readily available or convenient for some cooks compared to khoya. |
| Cooking time | The cooking time may vary slightly when using paneer instead of khoya, but both methods typically require slow cooking or simmering. |
| Ease of preparation | Both methods involve similar preparation techniques, but the use of paneer may require additional steps or adjustments. |
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What You'll Learn

Gajar halwa can be made without khoya
Gajar halwa, a traditional North Indian dessert, can be made without khoya. The traditional method involves slow cooking finely grated carrots with full-fat milk, sugar, and ghee. This classic recipe is simple, requiring the cook to reduce the milk and carrots, add sugar, and garnish with nuts and ghee.
To make gajar ka halwa without khoya, you will need the following ingredients:
- 4 cups of thickly grated carrot
- 4 tbsp of ghee
- 1 1/2 cups of milk
- 1/2 cup of condensed milk
- 1/2 tsp of cardamom (elaichi) powder
- 1 tbsp of almond (badam) slivers
- 1 tbsp of chopped cashews
- 1 tbsp of pistachio slivers
Firstly, heat the ghee in a pan, add the carrots, and sauté for a minute on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Next, add the milk, cover, and cook for 15 minutes on medium heat until the milk reduces. Then, add the condensed milk and cardamom powder, mixing well. Cook this mixture for five minutes on high heat, stirring continuously. Finally, add the almond and other nut slivers, give it a good mix, and it's ready to serve!
While khoya adds richness to the dessert, it is not essential, and gajar halwa can be made without it. Some people choose to omit it due to dietary restrictions or the unavailability of ingredients. You can also try adding ground almonds or cashew paste for a richer taste.
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Using paneer in gajar halwa
Gajar halwa, or carrot pudding, is a traditional North Indian dessert. It is usually made by simmering grated carrots with milk, sugar, and ghee, and is delicately scented with cardamom powder. It is often garnished with nuts.
Paneer gajar halwa is a variation of the traditional dessert, where paneer or cottage cheese is added to the halwa with khoya or dried milk. The recipe for this version of gajar halwa is as follows:
First, peel and rinse the carrots, and grate them using a food processor or manual grater. Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed pan or wok, and when it starts to boil, add the grated carrots. Stir well and cook on a simmer, stirring constantly to avoid burning at the bottom. When the milk is about to dry up, add sugar and mix. Continue cooking on a simmer until the milk evaporates.
Now, add ghee or clarified butter, khoya or dried milk/milk solids, paneer or cottage cheese, cardamom powder, raisins, and sliced almonds and cashew nuts. Mix and cook until the mixture dries up completely. Stir constantly. Finally, your halwa is ready to be served. It can be garnished with pistachio and peeled almond, or fried cashew nuts and raisins. It can be served warm or at room temperature, or even with vanilla ice cream.
Paneer gajar halwa is a tasty variation of the traditional gajar halwa, and is especially perfect for winters when carrots are in season.
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Gajar halwa recipe with milk powder
Gajar halwa, also known as carrot halwa, is a traditional Indian dessert. It is usually made by slow cooking fine grated carrots with full-fat milk, sugar, and ghee. However, if you are short on milk or want to use up surplus milk powder, you can still make this delicious dessert. Here is a recipe for gajar halwa with milk powder:
Ingredients:
- 500 grams carrots (half kg or 1.1 lbs)
- Milk powder
- 10 pistachios
- 5-6 almonds
- 5 cashew nuts
- Sugar
- Cardamom powder
- Ghee
- Nuts and raisins for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Wash, peel, and fine grate the carrots. A food processor can quicken the grating process.
- On a low heat, roast the pistachios, almonds, and cashews until crunchy. Remove them to a chopping board, cool, and chop them.
- In a heavy-bottomed large pot or pan, heat some ghee and add the grated carrots. You can also sauté the grated carrots in ghee for 2-3 minutes before cooking them with milk.
- Add milk powder and water to the carrots. Cook on low heat, stirring well, until the carrots turn tender.
- Add sugar, cardamom powder, and ghee to the mixture. Stir well and continue to cook until the milk powder is cooked and the mixture thickens.
- Garnish with chopped nuts and raisins (optional).
- Serve gajar halwa warm or chilled.
Gajar halwa is a popular dessert in India, especially during the winters when Delhi carrots, which are sweeter and juicier, are in season. While the traditional method uses full-fat milk, milk powder is a great substitute when you are short on milk or want to use up surplus milk powder.
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Gajar halwa with coconut milk
Gajar halwa, a traditional North Indian dessert, is typically made by slow cooking grated carrots with full-fat milk, sugar, and ghee. However, it can be time-consuming as the moisture and liquid from the carrots, milk, and sugar must evaporate before the halwa thickens.
To reduce cooking time, some recipes substitute milk with condensed milk, evaporated milk, or milk powder. These ingredients are already thickened or evaporated, expediting the process. Additionally, khoya (or mawa), a form of milk thickened until only milk solids remain, is a common ingredient in Gajar halwa, contributing to its rich, creamy texture.
Now, if you're looking to make Gajar halwa with coconut milk, it's important to note that coconut milk will give the dish a different taste profile. Coconut milk can be used, but it won't be a direct substitute for khoya or milk. For a closer substitute, consider using almond or soy milk, although you may need to adjust the quantities as these alternatives are thicker.
To make Gajar halwa with coconut milk, you can follow a similar process to traditional recipes. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Peel and finely grate the carrots. A food processor can speed up the grating process.
- Heat a tablespoon of ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan to prevent sticking. You can also use flavourless virgin coconut oil as a substitute.
- Add the grated carrots to the ghee and sauté for 3-5 minutes. This helps the carrots cook faster and retain their shape.
- Pour in half a cup of coconut milk and mix well. Ensure the mixture doesn't burn at the bottom of the pan.
- Bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes or until the coconut milk is completely evaporated. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching.
- At this point, the carrots should be almost cooked. If they seem too dry, you can add a small amount of coconut milk or water and continue cooking until tender.
- To add richness, you can mix in some cashew nut paste.
- Once the carrots are tender, add sugar to taste and mix well.
- Continue cooking until the mixture thickens and reaches your desired consistency.
- Finally, add a tablespoon of ghee and sauté for another 2 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped nuts and raisins, if desired.
Remember, when using coconut milk, the taste and texture of the Gajar halwa will differ from the traditional dish made with dairy milk or khoya. The cooking time and liquid ratios may also need adjustment to accommodate the unique properties of coconut milk.
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Gajar halwa with almond milk
Gajar halwa, also known as gajar ka halwa, is a traditional North Indian dessert. It is made by simmering fresh grated carrots with milk, sugar, and ghee, and is delicately scented with cardamom powder.
While the traditional recipe calls for full-fat milk, there are several vegan alternatives that can be used instead, including almond milk. Almond milk is a great substitute for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan. It adds a nice grainy texture and helps bulk up the halwa. However, one source notes that almond milk tends to separate when heated for a long time and can give an off taste. To avoid this, you can try using almond and cashew nut paste instead of plain almond milk.
- Wash, peel, and fine grate 500 grams of carrots.
- On a low heat, roast 10 pistachios, 5-6 almonds, and 5 cashew nuts until crunchy.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the nuts and cook until lightly golden.
- Add raisins and cook until they puff up.
- Add the grated carrots to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add almond meal and almond milk and mix well.
- Add sugar, vegan butter, salt, and cardamom. Mix in and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until all the almond milk has almost been absorbed.
- Stir occasionally and taste to adjust sweetness.
- Continue to cook until the desired consistency and color are achieved.
- Serve warm or chilled.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can substitute paneer or cottage cheese in gajar halwa instead of khoya. However, the taste will be different.
To make gajar halwa with paneer, peel and rinse the carrots. Cut off both ends and grate them in a food processor or with a manual grater. Heat milk in a heavy-bottomed pan or wok and add the grated carrots when the milk starts to boil. Stir well and cook on simmer until the milk has evaporated, then add sugar. Now add ghee, khoya, paneer, cardamom powder, raisins, and nuts. Mix and cook until the mixture dries up completely.
Gajar halwa, also known as carrot halwa or gajrela, is a traditional North Indian dessert. It is made by simmering grated carrots with milk, sugar, and ghee, and is delicately scented with cardamom powder and garnished with nuts.
Khoya, also known as mawa, is a dairy product commonly used in Indian cuisine. It is made by evaporating milk over a low heat until it forms a solid mass. Khoya is used as a base or thickening agent in many Indian sweets and desserts, including gajar halwa.











































